i 

732 
D35 

Library 
School 


IC-NRLF 


HANDBOOK 

OF  THE 

STflTE   LIBRflRY  COMMISSION 

FOR    THE 

STATE  OF  DELAWARE 


ESTABLISHED   1901 


COMPILED    FOR  THE   COMMISSION 

BY 
FLORENCE  BAYARD  KANE 

Pray  thee,  take  care,  that  tak'st  my  book  in  hand, 
To  read  it  well :  that  is  to  understand. 

JONSON. 


NEW  EDITION,    REVISED  AND  ENLARGED, 
Including  the  Library  Law  of  1903 


HEADQUARTERS    AT    THE 

COURT  HOUSE,   DOVER 


HANDBOOK 


OF   THE 

STflTE   LIBRflRY  COMMISSION 

FOR   THE 

STATE  OF  DELAWARE 


ESTABLISHED   1901 


COMPILED   FOR  THE  COMMISSION 


FLORENCE  BAYARD  KANE 

Pray  thee,  take  care,  that  tak'st  my  book  in  hand, 
To  read  it  well  :  that  is  to  understand. 

JONSON. 


NEW  EDITION,    REVISED  AND  ENLARGED, 
Including  the  Library  Law  of  1903 


HEADQUARTERS   AT    THE 

COURT  HOUSE,   DOVER 


STATE    LIBRARY    COMMISSION. 


MRS.  JAMES  W.  ANTHONY, 
SMYRNA.    ,    , 

c  c  rmc  rTr  mnroSii!! 

WILMINGTON.      / 

ISAIAH  J.  ERASURE, 
SKLBYVILLE. 

HENRY  P.  CANNON, 
BRIDGEVILLE. 

DANIEL  W.  CORBIT, 
ODESSA. 

MANLOVE  HAYES, 


MISS 


MlLFORD. 


MRS.  ELLA  C.   MARSHALL, 
DOVER. 


MRS.  CHARLES  R.  MILLER, 
WILMINGTON. 


MEMBERS. 

Appointed  Jan.  14,  1902,  for  2^  years. 

Appointed  June  3,  1901,  for  5  years. 
Appointed  Dec.  17,  1903,  for  5  years. 
Appointed  Dec.  17,  1903,  for  5  years. 
Appointed  June  3,  1901,  for  5  years. 
Appointed  June  3,  1901,  for  5  years. 
Appointed  Dec.  31,  1903,  for  5  years. 
Appointed  June  3,  1901,  for  5  years. 
Reappointed  June  3,  1902,  for  5  years. 


OFFICERS. 


MISS  I.  V.  CULBRETH,  LIBRARIAN. 


All  correspondence  relating  to  the  work  of  the  Commission  should  be 
addressed  to  THE  STATE  LIBRARY  COMMISSION,  DOVER,  DELAWARE. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


PAGES. 

List  of  Members 2 

Free  Public  Libraries 5 

How  to  start  a  Free  Public  Library  Movement 6-n 

Form  for  a  Taxpayers'  Petition 7 

Notice  to  Taxpayers 8-9 

What  a  Free  Library  does  for  a  Country  Town 1 1 

Reasons  for  Having  a  Free  Public  Library 12-14 

Permanence  of  Delaware  Libraries I4~I5 

Explanation  of  the  Library  Law  by  Henry  Ridgely,  Jr 16-21 

District  Library  Commissions 21-22 

By- Laws  suggested  for  District  Library  Commissions    ....  22-25 

Suggestions  to  Very  Small  Libraries 25-33 

Supplies 29 

Accession  Book 30 

Registration  Book 30,  5 1 

Book  Stamp 30-31 

Classification 3!~32 

Catalogue 32 

Rules 32,55-56 

Newspaper  Clippings  Desired 32 

Selection  and  Purchase  of  Books 33~37>  79-8 1 

The  Librarian 38-40 

General  Policy  of  a  Library 40-42 

Reading  Room 42-43 

Periodicals 43~45 

Periodical  Indexes 46 

Library  Management 46-55 

Classification •    •        47—58 

Author  Book  Numbers 48 

Catalogue 48-51 


193434 


Library  Management,  continued — 

Note  :  Library  of  Congress  Catalogue  Cards 5°~5 1 

Shelf  List 51 

Registration  of  Readers 51-52 

Fines 52 

Charging  System 52~ 55 

(a)  Borrower's  Card 52~53 

(b)  Book  Card 53~54 

(c)  Registration  Book  •    • 51 

Two  Book  System 55 

Suggested  Rules  for  Small  Libraries 55~56 

Librarian's  Monthly  Report 57~ 5^ 

Rooms,  Buildings  and  Fixtures    ...        59~^1 

Fittings  and  Supplies 61-62,80-81 

Library  Schools 62 

Summer  Library  Schools 62—63 

American  Library  Association  (A.  L.  A.) 63—64 

Traveling  Libraries    . 65-76 

Rules  for  Lending  Traveling  Libraries    .        69—70 

Circular  Letter  to  Librarians  of  Traveling  Libraries  •    •    .    .    .71-72 
Rules  for  Circulating  Traveling  Library  Books  .......  7  3-74 

Directions  to  Librarians  of  Traveling  Libraries 74— 7^ 

Shipping  Directions .         76 

Aids  and  Guides  in  Library  Work 77~8i 

Library  Periodicals 77 

Books  on  Classification  and  Cataloguing 78 

Aids  in  Selecting  Books 79 

Periodicals 80 

Periodical  Subscription  Agencies 80 

Fittings  and  Supplies 80-81 

Additional  Useful  Addresses .         81 

Penalty  for  Injuring  Library  Property      82 

Synopsis  of  Library  Law  Relating  to  District  Free  Public  Libraries  83-88 

Library  Law  of  1903 1 89-100 

Errata  loi 


OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY 

OF 


THE  STATE  LIBRARY  COMMISSION 

THE  ST^TIE 
DELAWARE. 


Consider  what  you  have  in  the  smallest  well  chosen  library.  A 
company  of  the  wisest,  wittiest  men  picked  out  of  all  civil  countries,  in 
a  thousand  years,  have  set  in  best  order  the  results  of  their  learning  and 
wisdom.  EMERSON. 


FREE  PUBLIC  LIBRARIES. 

The  initiative  in  all  library  movements  must  come  from 
individuals  and  communities,  but  the  State  Library  Com- 
mission of  Delaware  stands  ready  to  render  all  possible  as- 
sistance to  the  end  that  the  libraries  of  Delaware  may  be 
raised  to  a  higher  rank  and  that  the  citizens  of  the  State 
may  be  happier  and  better  fitted  for  citizenship  by  reason 
of  their  acquaintance  with  "the  literature  of  power  which 
inspires  and  builds  character,  and  of  the  literature  of 
knowledge  which  informs  and  builds  prosperity." 

The  compilation  of  this  Handbook  has  been  very  ma- 
terially aided  by  the  kindness  and  generosity  of  the  older 
State  Library  Commissions,  and  contains  so  much  that  will 
aid  our  various  school  districts  in  their  efforts  to  avail 
themselves  of  the  opportunities  opened  to  them  by  the 
passage  of  the  new  Library  Law  of  March  31,  1903,  that 
it  is  hoped  that  the  little  book  may  be  read  with  attention 
by  those  into  whose  hands  it  falls. 

The  purposes  for  which  this  Commission  was  created 
were  to  promote  the  establishment  and  efficiency  of  Free 
Public  Libraries.  Can  it  serve  your  community  in  either 


of  these  respects  by  co-operating  with  any  local  movement 
in  these  directions  ? 

Do  you  desire  more  information  on  library  subjects  ? 

Many  inquiries  regarding  the  organization  of  libraries, 
procuring  a  competent  librarian,  the  selection  of  books, 
library  supplies,  classification,  cataloguing,  etc.,  are  an- 
swered in  this  book,  but  should  further  information  be  de- 
sired, every  effort  will  be  made  to  give  it,  and  a  personal 
visit  will  be  made  if  deemed  necessary,  without  expense  to 
the  local  library  whenever  possible. 

All  correspondence  relating  to  the  work  of  the  Commis- 
sion should  be  addressed  to  The  State  Library  Commission, 
Dover,  Delaware. 

Ignorance  is  a  prolific  mother  of  vice  and  crime,  and  whatever  tends 
to  destroy  ignorance  aims  a  blow  also  at  the  existence  of  crime. 

ANON. 


HOW  TO  START  A  FREE  PUBLIC 
LIBRARY  MOVEMENT. 

The  first  step  must  be  to  arouse  public  sentiment  in  its 
favor. 

A  few  earnest  people  realizing  the  need  of  a  Library, 
must  determine  that  the  people  of  their  community  shall 
have  the  benefit  of  free  books,  and  must  plan  and  work 
and  agitate  until  every  one  is  aroused  to  the  fact  that  this 
opportunity  is  for  them  and  for  their  children  if  they  will 
but  take  it. 

They  should  hold  a  small  meeting  of  influential  workers 
for  the  measure,  and  decide  upon  a  definite  plan  of  action. 

As  it  is  essential  that  the  provisions  of  the  law  should  be 
fully  understood  by  the  active  spirits  engaged  in  the  work 
of  awakening  public  sentiment  upon  this  subject,  the  law 
should  be  carefully  read  and  considered,  and  for  its  full 
comprehension  no  better  help  could  be  desired  than  will 


be  found  in  the  admirably  clear  and  simple  explanation  of 
it  written  by  Henry  Ridgely,  Jr.  Esq.,  of  Dover,  for  the 
sixth  annual  meeting  of  the  Delaware  State  Federation  of 
Women's  Clubs,  held  in  May  1903,  which  follows  this  ar? 
ticle  on  p.  16. 

A  synopsis  of  the  amended  Library  Law  will  precede  its 
full  text,  and  may  also  be  found  helpful  to  a  proper  un- 
derstanding of  it.  Both  the  synopsis  and  the  Law  will 
be  found  at  the  end  of  the  Handbook,  on  pages  83-100. 

When  the  attention  of  the  public  is  thoroughly  aroused, 
the  time  will  have  come  to  present  the  petition  of  the 
necessary  number  of  qualified  electors  to  the  School  Board, 
or  Committee,  that  the  question  of  whether  or  not  they 
will  have  a  Free  Public  Library  should  be  submitted  to  the 
voters  on  the  next  day  after  the  regular  school  election. 
The  following  is  a  good  form  for  such  a  petition  : 

FORM 

FOR  A  PETITION  OF  QUALIFIED  ELECTORS  TO  A 
BOARD  OF  EDUCATION 

OR 
SCHOOL  COMMITTEE. 


Place 


Date 

T  Board  of  Education 

To  the  J  or  of  School  District,  No.  

(  School  Committee 

Gentlemen  : 

We,  the  undersigned  qualified  electors  in  said  district, 
respectfully  request  the  Board  of  Education,  or  School 
Committee,  to  submit  the  question  as  to  the  establishment 
of  a  Free  Public  Library  in  said  district  to  the  qualified 
electors  thereof,  at  a  special  election  to  be  held  on  the  day 


8 

next  following  the  next  town  election,  not  being  Sunday 
or  a  legal  holiday. 
Signatures : 


On  receiving  such  a  petition,  duly  signed,  at  least  thirty 
days  before  the  regular  school  elections,  it  is  the  duty  of 
the  Board  of  Education,  or  School  Committee,  to  give  the 
notices  required  by  law,  but  if  for  any  reason  they  neglect 
their  duty,  any  qualified  elector — man  or  woman — may 
give  the  notices  and  they  will  be  equally  effectual.  The 
following  is  a  good  form  for  such  notices,  and  its  state- 
ments can  be  readily  altered  to  suit, the  facts  in  the  case. 

A  FORM  FOR  A  NOTICE  TO  QUALIFIED  ELECTORS. 
NOTICE ! 

WHEREAS,  A  Petition  has  been  presented  to  the  Board 
of  Education,  or  School  Committee,  of  School  District,  No. 

of , County  by  at  least qualified 

electors  in  said  District  thirty  days  at  least  before  the  next 
succeeding  regular  school  election,  praying  that  the  Board 
of  Education,  or  School  Committee,  submit  the  question  as 
to  the  establishment  of  a  Free  Public  Library  in  said  dis- 
trict to  the  qualified  electors  thereof,  at  a  special  election 
to  be  held  on  the  day  next  following  the  ensuing  regular 
school  election. 

Now,  THEREFORE,  In  pursuance  of  said  petition  and  by 
virtue  of  the  power  and  authority  contained  in  Chapter  362, 
Vol.  22,  Laws  of  Delaware,  entitled,  "An  Act  providing 
for  the  Establishment  and  Maintenance  of  Free  Public 
Libraries,"  the  Board  of  Education,  or  School  Committee, 

of  District  No. hereby  gives  notice  that  on  Monday, 

the day  of  June,  190 — ,  (it  being  the  day  next 

following  the  ensuing  regular  town  election,  not  Sunday  or 
a  legal  holiday),  a  special  election  will  be  held  for  the  pur- 


pose  of  submitting  to  the  qualified  electors  of  said  District 
the  question  as  to  the  establishment  of  a  Free  Public 
Library. 

Those  favoring  the  establishment  of  a  Free  Library  will 
vote  by  ballot,  upon  which  shall  be  printed  or  written  the 
words  "For  a  Free  Library  ;"  and  those  opposing  the  es- 
tablishment of  a  Free  Library  will  vote  by  ballot  upon 
which  shall  be  printed  or  written  the  words  "Against  a 
Free  Library." 

Said  election  will  be  held  in  the in  District  No. 

of ,  on  the  day  and  year  aforesaid,  and  will  be 

opened  at o'clock  —  M.,  and  closed  at o'clock, 

-  M.,  and  will  be  conducted,  ballots  counted  and  results 
certified  as  now  are  provided  by  the  Law  for  regular  school 
elections. 

The  Board  of  Education,  or  School   Committee,  of  Dis- 
trict No.  of . 

Attest : Clerk. 

— , ,  190 — . 


The  friendly  services  of  some  one  member  of  the  Board 
should  be  enlisted  that  he  may  be  ready  to  support  the  pe- 
tition and  introduce  a  resolution  to  submit  the  question  to 
the  voters  as  requested. 

Usually  the  members  of  the  School  Boards  will  be  found 
very  willing  to  follow  public  sentiment  in  founding  public 
enterprises,  but,  like  other  human  beings  they  are  governed 
somewhat  by  their  prejudices  and  should  be  approached  by 
people  whom  they  respect,  and  who  have  tact  and  good 
judgment.  An  enthusiastic  but  tactless  hobby  rider  may 
easily  undo  months  of  careful  work  in  the  development  of 
interest  and  confidence  in  a  library  movement. 

The  chief  difficulty  which  will  confront  the  library 
worker  will  probably  be  on  the  part  of  the  tax-payers  who 
naturally  object  to  any  increase  of  their  burdens,  but  it 


10 

seems  likely  that  their  objections  will  be  readily  over-ruled 
when  they  realize  that  the  amount  of  tax  permitted  by  law 
is  so  small,  and  the  benefits  to  accrue  to  its  use  so  great, 
and  a  tactful  person  ought  to  be  able  to  persuade  the  most 
obdurate  tax-payer  to  withdraw  his  opposition. 

The  necessity  of  a  Free  Public  Library  should  be  urged 
through  the  local  press,  upon  the  platform  and  by  private 
appeals.  Include  in  the  canvass  all  citizens  irrespective  of 
creed,  business  or  politics,  whether  educated  or  illiterate. 
To  ignore  any  class  is  to  imply  its  indifference  to  educa- 
tion and  frequently  to  make  its  leaders  hostile  when  they 
might  well  have  been  enthusiastic  friends. 

Enlist  the  support  of  the  teachers,  and  through  them,  of 
the  children  and  parents.  Literary  societies,  Chautauqua 
circles,  Debating  and  Women's  Clubs  and  all  other  allied 
agencies  for  the  public  good  should  be  earnest  champions 
of  the  movement. 

The  local  newspapers  will  be  found  to  be  a  powerful 
agency  in  enlisting  and  sustaining  interest  in  the  measure. 

Herewith  are  presented  some  of  the  reasons  which  have 
found  weight  in  other  States  where  the  success  of  Free 
Public  Libraries  is  no  longer  questioned  and  where,  even 
in  the  smallest  communities,  it  has  long  passed  the  stage  of 
experiment.  And  let  those  Delawareans  who  after  reading 
will  still  say  that  "Ours  is  not  a  reading  community, "- 
that  "No  one  round  here  cares  for  books,"  or  that  "We 
have  no  time  to  read" — let  them  turn  to  p.  20  of  this 
Handbook  and  find  the  answer  to  all  such  Doubting 
Thomases  in  Henry  Ridgely,  Jr.  's  account  of  the  library 
experience  of  Dover.  What  has  happened  there  is  in  no 
way  exceptional — beyond  the  fact  that  it  has  occurred  in 
the  heart  of  our  own  little  State — it  is  the  practically  uni- 
versal experience  of  libraries  everywhere,  which,  however 
small,  are  owned  by  the  people ;  which  have  a  steady 
growth  from  year  to  year,  however  slow ;  which  are  abso- 


II 


lutely  free,  and  which  have  an  assured  income,  though  it 
be  one  of  but  a  few  dollars. 


The  more  books  of  the  right  kind  are  read,  the  more  efficient  a  Na- 
tion becomes.  To  deny  that  books  of  the  right  kind  contribute  to  hu- 
man efficiency,  or  that  the  great  books  of  a  Nation  contribute  to  a  Na- 
tion's efficiency,  is  like  a  refusal  to  acknowledge  that  heat  comes  from 
the  sun,  or  motive  power  from  steam.  No  man  or  woman  who  contests 
that  sort  of  proposition  deserves  a  hearing.  SIDNEY  LEE. 


All  may  learn,  and  all  may  be  comforted. — I  Corinthians  xiv,  31. 


WHAT  A  FREE  LIBRARY  DOES  FOR  A 
COUNTRY  TOWN. 

1.  It  keeps  boys  home  in  the  evening  by  giving  them 
well-written  stories  of  adventure. 

2.  It  gives  teachers  and  pupils  interesting  books  to  aid 
their  school  work   in  history  and  geography,  and  makes 
better  citizens  of  them  by  enlarging  their  knowledge  of 
their  country  and  its  growth. 

3.  It  provides  books  on  the   care  of  children  and   ani- 
mals, cookery  and  housekeeping,  building  and  gardening, 
and  teaches  young  readers  how  to  make  simple  dynamos, 
telephones  and  other  machines. 

4.  It   helps  clubs  that  are  studying  history,   literature, 
or  life  in  other  countries,  and  throws    light  upon  Sunday- 
school  lessons. 

5.  It  furnishes  books  of  selections  for  reading   aloud, 
suggestions  for  entertainments  and  home  amusements,  and 
hints  on  correct  speech  and  good  manners. 

6.  It  teaches  the  names  and   habits  of  the  plants,  birds 
and  insects  of  the  neighborhood,  and  the  differences  in 
soil  and  rock. 

7.  It  tells  the  story  of  the  town  from  its  settlement, 
and  keeps  a  record  of  all  important  events  in  its  history. 

8.  It  offers  pleasant  and  wholesome  stories  to  readers  of 
all  ages. 


12 


Let  us  thank  God  for  books.  When  I  consider  what  some  books 
have  done  for  the  world,  and  what  they  are  doing,  how  they  keep  up 
our  hope,  awaken  new  courage  and  faith,  soothe  pain,  give  an  ideal  life 
to  those  whose  homes  are  hard  and  cold,  bind  together  distant  ages  and 
foreign  lands,  create  new  worlds  of  beauty,  bring  down  truths  from 
Heaven — I  give  eternal  blessings  for  this  gift  and  pray  that  we  may  use 
it  aright,  and  abuse  it  not.  CLARKE. 


REASONS  FOR  HAVING  A  FREE  PUBLIC 
LIBRARY. 

The  Public  Libraries  have  without  delay  become  an  es- 
sential part  of  a  public  education  system  and  are  as  clearly 
useful  as  the  Public  Schools.  They  are  not  only  classed 
with  schools  but  have  generally  become  influential  adjuncts 
of  the  Public  Schools.  The  number  of  readers  is  rapidly 
increasing  and  the  character  of  the  books  is  constantly  im- 
proving. 

Not  unfrequently  the  objection  is  heard  that  the  Public 
Libraries  are  opening  the  doors  to  light  and  useless  books  ; 
that  reading  can  be,  and  often  is,  carried  to  a  vicious  and 
enervating  excess,  and  therefore  that  the  Libraries'  influ- 
ence is  doubtful  and  on  the  whole  not  good.  This  argu- 
ment does  not  need  elaborate  exposure. 

The  main  purpose  of  the  Library  is  to  counteract  and 
check  the  circulation  and  influence  of  the  empty  and  not 
infrequently  vicious  books  that  are  so  rife.  A  visit  to  any 
news-stand  will  disclose  a  world  of  low  and  demoralizing 
' 'penny  dreadfuls"  and  other  trash.  These  are  bought  by 
boys  and  girls  because  they  want  to  read  and  can  nowhere 
else  obtain  reading  material.  This  deluge  of  worthless 
periodicals  and  books  can  be  counteracted  only  by  gratui- 
tous supplies  from  the  Public  Library. 

Whether  these  counteracting  books  be  fiction  or  not, 
they  may  be  pure  and  harmless,  and  often  of  intellectual 
merit  and  moral  excellence.  The  question  is  not  whether 
people  shall  read  fiction — for  read  it  they  will  —  but 


13 

whether  they  are  to  have  good  fiction  instead  of  worthless 
and  harmful  trash. 

The  tendency  to  read  inferior  books  can  soon  be  checked 
by  a  good  Library.  If  the  attention  of  the  children  in 
school  is  directed  to  good  books,  and  the  Free  Library 
contains  such  books,  there  will  be  no  thought  of  the  news- 
stand as  the  place  for  finding  reading  matter. 

The  economical  reason  for  establishing  Free  Public 
Libraries  is  the  fact  that  public  officers  and  public  taxation 
manage  and  support  them  efficiently  and  make  them  avail- 
able to  the  largest  number  of  readers.  By  means  of  a 
Free  Library  there  is  the  best  utilization  of  effort  and  of 
resources  at  a  small  cost  to  individuals. 

While  a  private  library  may  greatly  delight  and  improve 
the  owner  and  his  immediate  circle  of  friends,  it  is  a  lux- 
ury to  which  he  and  they  only  can  resort. 

A  Library  charging  a  fee  may  bring  comfort  to  a  re- 
spectable board  of  directors  by  ministering  to  a  small  and 
financially  independent  circle  of  booktakers,  by  its  free- 
dom from  the  rush  of  numerous  and  eager  readers,  and  by 
strict  conformity  to  the  notions  and  vagaries  of  the  man- 
agers. But  such  a  Library  never  realizes  the  highest 
utility.  The  greater  part  of  the  books  lie  untouched  upon 
the  shelves  and  compared  with  the  Free  Library  it  is  a 
lame  and  impotent  affair. 

The  books  of  a  Public  Library  actively  pervade  the 
community  ;  they  reach  and  are  influential  with  very  large 
numbers  and  the  utility  of  the  common  possession — books 
— is  multiplied  without  limit. 

Before  several  of  our  towns  lies  the  question  of  open- 
ing to  all  what  is  now  limited  to  those  who  pay  a  fee. 
This  is  not  merely  a  limitation — it  is  practically  a  prohibi- 
tion. 

Whether  right  or  wrong, — and  that  we  need  not  now 
discuss, — human  beings  as  at  present  constituted  will  not 


14 

frequent  in  large  numbers  Libraries  that  charge  a  fee.  The 
spirit  of  the  age  and  the  tendency  of  liberal  communities 
are  entirely  in  favor  of  furnishing  this  means  of  education 
and  amusement  without  charge.  Certainly  towns  which 
can  maintain  by  taxation,  paupers,  parks,  highways  and 
schools  have  no  reasonable  ground  for  denying  free  read- 
ing to  their  inhabitants. 

These  towns  spend  vast  sums  of  money  in  providing 
education,  and  yet  omit  the  small  extra  expenditure  which 
would  enable  young  men  and  women  to  continue  their 
education. 

The  experience  of  the  Library  Commissions  of  our  other 
States  has  amply  demonstrated  that  Libraries  and  literature 
are  sought  for  and  appreciated  quite  as  much  by  rural  com- 
munities as  by  the  larger  towns,  and  not  unfrequently  the 
appreciation  is  apparently  keener  because  of  the  absence 
of  interests  and  amusements  other  than  those  provided  by 
the  Library.  There  is  now  no  real  reason  why  every  part 
of  this  State  may  not  enjoy  the  advantages  and  pleasures 
of  book  distribution,  for  concentration  of  effort  in  the 
small  towns  elsewhere  has  provided  efficient,  attractive  and 
economical  Libraries,  and  could  as  well  do  so  here. 


PERMANENCE  OF  DELAWARE 
LIBRARIES. 

An  important  point  to  be  considered  is  that  Delaware's 
Public  Libraries  are  to  be  permanent  and  growing  institu- 
tions. A  stationary  Library  is  soon  exhausted  by  every 
active  reader,  and  afterwards  fails  to  offer  that  novelty 
which  is  one  of  the  strongest  inducements  to  reading,  but 
our  law  has  been  wisely  so  drawn  by  Henry  Ridgely,  Jr. 
that  those  school  distric's  which  once  decide  in  favor  of  hav- 
ing Free  Libraries  bind  themselves  to  annually  make  appro- 
priations to  maintain  them  afterwards,  and  by  this  means 
the  law  has  provided  for  yearly  additions  of  new  books. 


15 

The  collection  of  books  once  formed  and  steadily  en- 
larged will  place  these  experimental  Libraries  beyond  the 
reach  of  change,  beyond  the  doubts  and  fears  of  to-day, 
and  will  justify  the  hopes  and  aspirations  of  their  pro- 
moters. If  only  fifty  or  one  or  two  hundred  books  can  be 
added  to  each  small  Library  annually,  it  requires  little 
computation  to  make  it  plain  that — allowing  for  loss  and 
wear — at  the  end  of  a  decade  or  two,  there  must  be  many 
large  and  useful  Libraries  in  Delaware. 

To  them — as  to  a  visible  nucleus — will  be  attracted  gifts 
and  legacies,  and  with  the  current  of  popular  attention 
constantly  directed  to  them,  and  with  the  children  passing 
through  them  on  their  way  to  the  activities  of  life,  they 
are  certain  to  become  the  centers  of  the  intellectual  life  of 
the  people,  for  though  "Laws  die;  Books  never"  said 
Richelieu. 

Libraries  are  needed  to  furnish  the  incentive  and  the 
opportunity  for  wider  study  to  the  pupils  of  the  schools,  to 
teach  them  "the  science  and  art  of  reading  for  a  purpose," 
to  give  each  child  with  a  hidden  talent  the  chance  to  dis- 
cover and  develop  it;  to  give  to  each  workman  and  arti- 
san a  chance  to  know  what  his  ambitious  fellows  are  doing  ; 
to  give  to  tired  men  and  women — weary  and  worn  from 
treading  a  narrow  round — excursions  in  fresh  and  delight- 
ful fields  ;  to  give  to  clubs  for  study  and  amusement  ma- 
terials for  better  work ;  and  last,  but  by  no  means  least,  to 
give  wholesome  employment  to  all  classes  for  those  idle 
hours  that  wreck  more  lives  than  any  other  cause. 


If  a  Book  come  from  the  heart,  it  will  contrive  to  reach  other  hearts  ; 
all  art  and  author-craft  are  of  small  account  to  that  ...  In  Books 
lies  the  soul  of  the  whole  Past  Time  ;  the  articulate  audible  voice  of  the 
Past,  when  the  body  and  material  substance  of  it  has  altogether  vanished 
like  a  dream  .  .  .  All  that  mankind  has  done,  thought,  gained,  or 
been  :  it  is  lying  as  in  magic  preservation  in  the  pages  of  Books. 

CARLYLE. 


i6 

Read   not   to   contradict    and   confute,  nor  to  believe   and  take   for 
granted,  nor  to  find  talk  and  discourse,  but  to  weigh  and  consider. 

BACON. 


EXPLANATION  OF  THE  LIBRARY  LAW 

BY 

HENRY  RIDGELY,  JR. 

Two  years  and  a-half  ago  the  establishment  of  a  Free 
Library  anywhere  in  the  State  of  Delaware,  except  Wil- 
mington, was  dependent  upon  individual  philanthropy  ; 
to-day  nothing  more  is  required  than  energy  and  public 
spirit. 

In  the  past,  no  community  in  our  State  could  hope  to 
furnish  its  inhabitants  with  free  reading  material  unless 
through  the  generosity  of  a  wealthy  citizen  ;  in  this  pres- 
ent, no  community  need  be  without  such  a  hope  and  its 
speedy  consummation. 

Before,  there  were  good  reasons  why  there  were  no 
more  Public  Libraries  in  Delaware ;  now  there  is  no  valid 
excuse  for  the  lack  of  them  in  any  section. 

In  1901,  our  incorporated  towns  generally  were  given 
the  opportunity  of  establishing  Free  Public  Libraries ;  in 
1903  it  has  been  made  possible  to  have  as  many  such  Li- 
braries in  Delaware  as  there  are  public  school  buildings. 

As  is  known,  the  whole  State  is  apportioned  into  school 
districts  so  that  every  community  may  have  its  free  school. 
By  the  recent  new  or  amendatory  Library  Act,  these  school 
districts  have  been  made  library  districts  also,  so  that  every 
community  with  a  free  school  may  have  a  Free  Library  as 
well. 

The  manner  of  going  about  the  establishment  of  a  Free 
Public  Library  in  a  school  district  is  simple  enough.  The 
first  step  is  to  present  a  petition  to  the  School  Board  or 
Committee  of  the  district.  All  that  the  petition  need 
State  is  that  the  signers  are  qualified  electors  of  the  school 


17 

district,  that  they  desire  a  Free  Library  established  therein, 
and  that  they  request  the  Board  or  Committee  to  call  an 
election  for  that  purpose  on  the  day  following  the  next 
regular  school  election,  not  being  Sunday  or  a  legal  holi- 
day. [See  p.  6.— Ed.] 

The  number  of  signers  necessary  to  such  a  petition  de- 
pends upon  the  class  to  which  the  district  belongs  as  fixed 
by  the  law.  This  classifying  of  the  districts  will  be  ex- 
p^lained  hereafter.  At  present,  it  is  sufficient  to  state  that 
if  the  district  be  of  the  first  or  second  class,  twenty  sign- 
ers are  required  :  if  of  the  third,  fourth  or  fifth  class,  ten 
signers ;  and  in  districts  of  the  sixth  or  seventh  class,  five 
signers. 

The  petition  must  be  presented  at  least  thirty  days  be- 
fore the  then  next  succeeding  school  election. 

After  such  a  petition  is  presented,  the  School  Board 
or  Committee  is  bound  to  call  the  special  election  as 
requested.  Everyone  qualified  to  vote  at  the  school  elec- 
tion, may  legally  vote  at  such  special  election.  This  in- 
cludes, of  course,  all  resident  female  tax-payers.  If  at  the 
special  election,  a  majority  of  the  ballots  cast  is  marked 
"Fora  Free  Library,"  the  main  object  has  been  accom- 
plished. If,  however,  a  majority  is  against  it,  work  for  it 
the  next  time ;  the  law  permits  you  to  try  each  year  until 
you  succeed. 

In  this  connection  it  may  not  be  improper  to  call  your 
attention  to  the  fact  that  as  our  State  Constitution  makes  it 
imperative  that  districts  for  schools  for  the  whites  be  kept 
separate  and  distinct  from  those  for  the  blacks  ;  this  dis- 
tinction and  separation  is,  of  course,  continued  in  the  case 
of  Library  districts  also. 

A  very  pertinent  question  may  suggest  itself  here,  how 
are  the  means  with  which  to  maintain  a  Free  Library  to 
be  secured,  even  if  it  be  established  by  vote?  The  an- 
swer is,  exactly  as  are  funds  for  your  common  schools. 
And  here  it  becomes  necessary  to  explain  the  classification 


of  the  school  districts  into  library  districts  before  adverted 
to. 

The  amount  of  money  necessary  for  the  maintenance  of 
a  Free  Library  varies,  of  course,  according  to  the  number 
of  its  probable  members,  etc.  Our  school  law  permits  or 
requires  certain  school  districts  to  raise  one  sum  for  current 
school  expenses,  others,  a  different  sum,  and  so  on. 

The  Free  Library  Law  takes  this  distinction  in  school 
districts  as  the  basis  for  determining  how  much  money 
may  be  required  for  free  libraries,  and  on  this,  classifies 
the  library  districts  as  follows ;  that  is,  the  library  districts 
being  identical  with  the  school  districts,  the  former  are  ar- 
ranged in  classes  according  to  the  sums  of  money  which 
the  School  Boards  or  Committees  are  authorized  to  raise 
annually  for  school  purposes. 

Thus,  every  district  in  which  the  sum  authorized  to  be 
raised  by  its  School  Board  or  Committee  for  school  ex- 
penses is  $6,000  or  more,  is  called  a  library  district  of  the 
< 'First  Class." 

Every  district  in  which  the  sum  so  authorized  is  not 
less  than  $4,000,  nor  as  much  as  $6,000,  is  called  a 
library  district  of  the  "Second  Class." 

Every  district  in  which  such  sum  is  not  less  than  $2,000, 
nor  as  much  as  $4,000,  is  called  a  library  district  of  the 
"Third  Class." 

Every  district  in  which  such  sum  is  not  less  than  $1,000, 
nor  as  much  as  $2,000,  is  called  a  library  district  of  the 
"Fourth  Class." 

Every  district  in  which  such  sum  is  not  less  than  $500, 
nor  as  much  as  $1,000,  is  called  a  library  district  of  the 
"Fifth  Class." 

Every  district  in  which  such  sum  is  not  less  than  $200 
nor  as  much  as  $500,  is  called  a  library  district  of  the 
"Sixth  Class." 

And  every  district  in  which  such  sum  is  less  than  $200 
is  called  a  library  district  of  the  "Seventh  Class." 


Ask  any  member  of  your  School  Board  or  Committee 
what  sum  is  authorized  to  be  raised  annually  for  the 
schools,  and  you  will  be  able  at  once  to  determine  which 
class  of  library  districts  you  live  in. 

Having  ascertained  this,  you  will  then  know  how  much 
money  you  may  be  able  to  get  for  your  Free  Library  ;  for 
when  a  vote  in  favor  of  a  library  has  been  had,  the  School 
Board  or  Committee  is  bound  to  raise  by  taxation  for  your 
library  a  sum  determined  by  the  class  of  the  district  in 
which  the  library  has  been  voted  for. 

Thus  in  districts  of  the  first  class,  the  Board  or  Com- 
mittee can  raise  for  the  library  each  year  not  less  than 
$250,  nor  more  than  $600  ;  if  of  the  second  class,  any 
sum  not  less  than  $150  nor  more  than  $400  ;  if  of  the 
third  class,  any  sum  not  less  than  $100,  nor  more  than 
$300;  if  of  the  fourth  class,  any  sum  not  less  $75,  nor 
more  than  $200 ;  if  of  the  fifth  class,  any  sum  not  less 
than  $50,  nor  more  than  $150  ;  if  of  the  sixth  class,  any 
sum  not  less  than  $40,  nor  more  than  $100  ;  and  if  of  the 
seventh  class,  any  sum  not  less  than  $25,  nor  more  than 
#75- 

For  example,  the  Dover  Library,  being  of  the  First 
Class,  can  count  upon  the  School  Board  of  Dover  to  raise 
for  the  Library  any  sum  between  $250  and  $600. 

In  each  case,  the  School  Board  or  Committee  is  given  a 
certain  discretion  as  to  the  sum  which  it  is  to  raise  for  a 
Free  Library  ;  that  is,  it  can't  give  less  than  a  certain  sum 
named,  nor  more  than  a  certain  other  sum  specified  in  the 
law. 

In  addition  to  the  sum  raised  by  taxation,  the  Library 
also  is  entitled  to  a  State  dividend  each  year,  the  amount 
of  which  is  de  terminable  likewise  by  the  class  ;  the  dividend 
being  one-half  of  the  minimum  amount  authorized  to  be 
raised  as  before  explained.  Thus,  Dover,  being  in  the 
First  Class,  will  receive  $125  yearly  from  the  State,  that  be- 


2O 

ing  one-half  of  the  $250,  which  is  the  lowest  sum  its  Board 
can  raise  for  its  Library. 

It  may  be  urged  that  in  the  case  of  districts  below  the 
first,  second  or  third  classes,  the  sums  of  money  which  can 
be  counted  on,  are  too  small  for  the  maintenance  of  a  Free 
Library. 

To  such  an  objection,  several  answers  may  be  made. 
Make  your  start,  the  rest  will  come.  If  necessary,  begin 
with  a  few  books  only,  and  build  round  them.  You  are 
not  working  for  one  day  but  for  generations.  Our  free 
schools  were  inaugurated  on  the  smallest  and  most  econom- 
ical scale.  They  have  grown  and  flourished.  So  will  it 
be  with  the  Free  Libraries. 

Moreover,  you  may  increase  the  amount  for  your  Library 
to  any  sum  desired  by  securing  a  special  vote  for  this  pur- 
pose at  any  election  of  Library  Commissioners.  Start 
your  Library  ;  make  it  popular  ;  the  money  will  be  forth- 
coming. 

It  may  be  urged  again  that  the  people  do  not  really 
need  or  want  a  Library.  Persons  may  and  probably  do 
think  so.  They  are  the  ones  who  will  say  to  you  that  they 
are  in  favor  of  the  Library  themselves,  but  will  warn  you 
against  an  attempt  to  establish  one.  Let  me  give  you  our 
experience  in  Dover  as  an  answer  to  such  objectors. 

For  a  number  of  years  Dover  had  a  most  excellent  sub- 
scription Library.  It  had  about  three  thousand  books, 
among  the  best  published,  and  a  good  reading  room  with  a 
dozen  or  more  of  the  best  current  periodicals.  The  mem- 
bership fee  was  in  time  reduced  to  only  one  dollar  a  year, 
two  cents  a  week,  in  order  that  every  family  (so  it  was  said) 
might  be  able  to  have  at  least  one  subscription.  Never- 
theless, the  membership  roll  became  so  small  that  even  a 
trifling  sum  required  for  the  librarian,  and  heating  and 
lighting  could  be  secured  only  through  outside  philanthropy. 

When  there  was  some  talk  of  trying  to  establish  a  Free 
Library  in  Dover,  many  people  said  it  was  absurd ;  that 


21 

the  experience  of  the  subscription  Library  proved  clearly 
that  a  Library  here  was  not  needed  or  wanted  ;  that  the 
readers  owned  their  own  books ;  and  so  forth  and  so  on. 
Nevertheless  the  Free  Library  was  established,  and  before 
the  doors  had  been  opened  half  a  year,  in  one  single  month, 
over  sixteen  hundred  pieces  of  reading  matter  had  been 
taken  out  from  its  shelves.  Sixteen  hundred  books  and 
periodicals  taken  out  in  a  single  month,  after  such  a  brief 
establishment,  was  enough  to  startle  the  most  sanguine  of 
us.  And  yet,  some  very  good  people  had  said  our  town 
didn't  want  or  didn't  need  a  Free  Library  ! 

The  need  is  present  in  every  community,  and  desire  in 
many ;  what  is  needed,  and  all  that  is  needed,  is  energy 
and  persistent  endeavor,  and  a  little  public  spirit. 


He  who  calls  in  the  aid  of  an  equal  understanding,  doubles  his  own  ; 
and  he  who  profits  by  a  superior  understanding,  raises  his  power  to  a 
level  with  the  height  of  the  superior  understanding  he  unites  with. 

BURKE. 


DISTRICT     LIBRARY  COMMISSIONS. 

The  law  provides  that  both  women  and  men  may  serve 
in  these  bodies,  and  that  the  number  of  members  which 
compose  them  shall  vary  according  to  the  class  into  which 
their  districts  fall,  and  must  be  as  follows : 

ist  and  2d  class,  9  members. 

3d  and  4th  class,  5  members. 

5th,  6th  and  yth  class,  3  members. 

As  the  management  of  a  Public  Library  calls  for  the 
exercise  of  many  kinds  of  intelligence  and  ability  besides 
those  used  in  the  judgment  of  books,  it  is  in  the  highest 
degree  important  that  great  care  should  be  taken  in  the 
selection  of  these  members,  and  some  of  the  number 
should  assuredly  be  chosen  because  of  eminence  in  ex- 
ecutive ability,  of  business  sagacity,  and  of  unblemished 


22 


integrity  in  political  power,  as  well  as  for  knowledge  of 
books. 

The  Library  in  fulfilling  its  highest  functions  will  con- 
tinually be  brought  into  relations  with  its  community  which 
will  require  the  active  use  of  each  one  of  these  qualities  as 
well  as  many  others  equally  practical,  and  capacity  and 
willingness  to  work  are  more  useful  than  a  taste  for  litera- 
ture without  them. 

Last,  but  by  no  means  least,  "the  possession  of  that  tolerant 
temper  which  allows  a  man  or  woman  to  work  harmoniously 
and  effectively  as  a  member  of  the  board,  where  individual 
opinions  and  desires  must  always  be  balanced  and  modified 
by  the  will  and  wisdom  of  the  majority,  is  also  a  very 
necessary  endowment  for  such  a  position." 

If  possible  try  to  have  the  interests  of  various  sections  of 
the  town  represented  and  let  neither  church  nor  politics 
affect  the  choice  of  library  commissioners. 


By  reading  we  acquaint  ourselves,  in  a  very  extensive  manner,  with 
the  affairs,  actions  and  thoughts  of  the  living  and  the  dead,  in  the  most 
remote  actions,  and  in  the  most  distant  ages  ;  and  that  with  as  much 
ease  as  though  they  lived  in  our  own  age  and  nation.  WATTS. 


BY-LAWS   SUGGESTED 
For  District  Library  Commissions. 

i.  OFFICERS.  The  officers  of  the  District  Library  Com- 
mission shall  be  a  President,  Vice-President  and  Secretary, 
who  shall  be  elected  annually  from  its  own  members. 

The  President  shall  perform  the  duties  generally  per- 
taining to  that  office,  and  in  conjunction  with  the  finance 
committee  shall  make  an  estimate  at  the  close  of  each 
fiscal  year  of  the  probable  expenses  for  the  ensuing  year, 
and  submit  the  same  to  the  Commission  for  its  action. 

The  Vice-President  shall,  in  the  absence  or  disability  of 
the  President,  perform  all  the  duties  of  the  President. 


23 

The  Secretary  shall  record  all  the  official  actions  of  the 
Commission  and  have  custody  of  all  its  official  books, 
records  and  accounts  except  those  in  current  use  by 
another  officer. 

2.  MEETINGS.     The    regular    meetings   of    the    Com- 
mission shall  be  on  the  of  each  month  at 

p.  m.,  at . 

The  annual  meeting  shall  be  on  the of 

in  each  year. 

Special  meetings  shall  be  called  by  the  President  or  by 
request  of  any  two  members  of  the  Commission  for  the 
transaction  only  of  business  stated  in  the  call. 

Five,  three  or  two  (according  to  the  class  of  the  Dis- 
trict), members  shall  constitute  a  quorum. 

3.  COMMITTEES.     At  the  annual  meeting  the  President 
shall    appoint    standing    committees   as    follows :    A  com- 
mittee of members  on  books  and  supplies,  a  com- 
mittee of members   on    finance,  and  a  committee 

of members  on  buildings  and  premises. 

The  committee  on  books  and  supplies  shall  supervise  the 
selection,  buying,  exchange  and  binding  of  books  and 
periodicals,  and  have  general  supervision  of  the  adminis- 
tration of  the  Library  and  reading  room. 

The  finance  committee  shall  have  charge  of  all  Library 
finances,  and  examine  and  report  upon  all  bills  against  the 
Commission,  and  make  an  annual  investigation  of  and  re- 
port upon  the  library  fund  in  the  hands  of  the  Treasurer 
of  the  School  District. 

The  committee  on  buildings  and  premises  shall  have 
general  charge  of  the  heating,  lighting  and  arrangement 
of  the  rooms,  and  the  care  of  the  fixtures  and  furniture. 

4.  CLAIMS.      All    claims   against    the    District    Library 
Commission  must  be  presented  at  a  meeting  of  the  Com- 
mission and  referred  to  the  committee  on  finance  for  in- 
vestigation and  report.     The  President  and  the  Secretary 


24 

shall  draw  orders  upon  the  Treasurer  of  the  School  District 
for  the  payment  of  bills  which  the  Commission  orders  paid. 

5.  LIBRARIAN.  The  Librarian  shall  have  charge  of  the 
Library  and  reading  room  and  be  responsible  for  the  care 
of  the  books  and  other  library  property  ;  classify  and 
arrange  all  books  and  publications  and  keep  the  same 
catalogued  according  to  such  plans  as  may  be  approved  by 
the  District  Library  Commission  ;  promptly  report  any  de- 
linquencies to  the  committee  on  books  and  supplies  ;  keep 
exact  account  of  all  monies  received  from  fines  and  other 
sources  and  report  all  amounts  to  the  Commission  at  its 

regular  meetings  in    ,    ,    ,    , 

and  pay  all  balances  to  the  Secretary  at  the  designated 
meetings,  and  discharge  such  other  duties  as  may  be  pre- 
scribed by  the  District  Library  Commission,  provided  that 
in  the  performance  of  such  duties  she  shall  not  incur  debt 
or  liability  of  any  kind  without  express  authority  from  the 
Commission. 

NOTE.  Most  small  libraries  will  find  it  quite  sufficient 
to  hold  regular  meetings  once  in  two  or  three  months. 

When  the  Library's  receipts  from  fines  are  light,  the 
Librarian  might  be  allowed  to  retain  them  for  some  time, 
and  pay  very  small  bills  for  postage,  etc. ,  from  them. 
When  settling  with  the  Secretary  she  may  pay  the  full 
amounts  and  be  given  an  order  for  the  amount  of  her  ex- 
penditure. The  Secretary  should  pay  the  balance  to  the 
Treasurer  of  the  School  District  before  the  time  of  the 
final  meeting  and  report. 

When  a  Library  Commission  receives  considerable  sums 
of  money  from  other  sources  than  from  public  taxation,  it 
may  be  advisable  to  elect  a  Treasurer  from  its  own  mem- 
bers, and  in  such  a  case  that  officer  should  give  adequate 
bonds. 

Many  Libraries  call  in  all  their  books  by  July  ist  each 
year  for  the  annual  inventory  to  be  taken  before  making 


25 

up  the  report  to  be  presented  to  the  District  at  the  annual 
school  meeting.  If  an  accurate  charging  system  is  used  it 
is  not  really  necessary  to  recall  the  books. 


In  books  are  treasures  more  than  gold. 
Great  thoughts  come  down  from  minds  of  old, 
Embalmed  in  forms  that  ever  live, 
And  never  cease  their  life  to  give. 
How  grand  the  monuments  of  mind  ! 
Which  leave  all  others  far  behind 
And  shine  with  light  that  is  sublime — 
Lighthouses  on  the  coasts  of  Time  ! 

JOHN  MOORE. 


SUGGESTIONS  TO  VERY  SMALL 
LIBRARIES. 

Friends  of  libraries,  do  not  be  discourged  by  the  idea 
that  your  Library,  if  you  would  have  one,  must  make  a 
very  small  beginning.  Scattered  over  this  great  country 
of  ours  are  hundreds  of  successful  libraries  begun  on  no 
larger  scale,  and  on  a  much  more  uncertain  basis  than 
yours  will  be.  Remember  that  year  by  year  yours  must 
grow,  and  in  proportion  as  you  love  and  care  for  it,  the 
growth  will  be  more  rapid  and  healthy. 

Therefore  be  content  to  have  your  collection  of  books  a 
very  small  one  at  first,  and  to  have  your  equipment  of  the 
smallest,  least  expensive  sort,  for  five  or  ten  years  from 
now  you  will  realize  that  with  all  its  lacks  and  deficiencies 
your  Library  has  been  a  source  of  pride  and  pleasure  to  its 
earliest  supporters,  and  that  it  has  been  of  real  value  in 
the  community. 

It  will  be  unnecessary  to  have  all  the  records  and  sys- 
tems of  management,  etc.,  detailed  elsewhere  in  this  book 
(though  it  will  surely  repay  you  to  read  it  all,  for  the  sake 
of  the  suggestions  and  the  general  theory  of  Library  policy 
it  prescribes),  but  for  yourselves  and  the  immediate  pres- 


26 


ent,   much   less  elaborate  "fixings"  will  be  necessary  and 
desirable. 

You  may  have  to  open  your  Library  in  the  Schoolhouse 
in  the  woods,  and  there  are  worse  places  for  it  than  in  so 
sweet  and  fragrant  a  spot ;  or  perhaps  a  disused  room  over 
the  "Store"  will  be  lent  for  the  purpose;  or  the  vestry 
room  of  the  Church  may  be  made  to  do  double  duty.  But 
wherever  you  may  keep  your  books,  try  to  obtain  reading 
room  privileges  for  your  public  as  well  as  shelf  room  for 
your  books,  and  to  make  the  place  just  as  cheerful,  clean 
and  bright  as  the  circumstances  permit. 

Have  your  shelves  (8  inches  deep,  by  10  high,  will 
accommodate  nine-tenths  of  the  books  published),  arranged 
where  the  books  will  be  least  likely  to  be  disturbed  by 
passing  children  and  where  they  will  make  as  attractive  an 
appearance  as  possible.  Let  the  shelves  be  of  smooth  un- 
painted  boards,  but  keep  them  clean,  and  do  not  let  them 
be  too  long  or  they  will  sag  under  the  weight  of  books  and 
look  ugly,  and  perhaps  damage  the  tops  of  tall  books  on 
the  shelves  below. 

The  shelf  divisions  or  supports  ought  not  to  be  further 
apart  than  from  32  to  36  inches,  and  if  you  are  careful  to 
observe  this  rule,  the  shelves  need  not  be  more  than  three- 
fourths  of  an  inch  thick.  Do  not  have  them  higher  than 
you  can  reach  conveniently  (five  shelves  will  be  about 
enough).  Keep  the  lowest  shelf  three  or  four  inches 
above  the  floor  to  avoid  having  the  sweepings  and  scrub 
water  spoil  the  books. 

If  you  are  lucky  enough  to  have  begged,  borrowed  or 
bought  as  many  as  a  thousand  volumes  to  begin  with,  it 
will  be  worth  your  while  to  insist  on  your  Librarian's  mak- 
ing a  study  of  the  slightly  more  elaborate  system  of  Library 
management  suggested  elsewhere  in  this  book  ;  but  if  you 
begin  with  but  one  or  two  hundred  books,  and  expect  to 
increase  the  collection  by  20  to  50  volumes  a  year,  then 


27 

the  methods  described  below  will  be  sufficient  and  easier 
at  first. 

If  you  can  begin  in  a  room  especially  devoted  to  the 
Library's  uses  try  to  have  it  on  the  ground  floor.  Make 
the  room  as  attractive  as  you  possibly  can,  and  as  cheer- 
ful. Have  the  chairs  as  comfortable  as  you  can  get 
—it  does  not  matter  if  they  are  of  different  patterns,— 
and  try  to  have  a  few  low  ones  for  the  little  people. 

A  pot  of  geraniums  or  oxalis  in  the  window,  a  rug  of 
bright  rag  carpet  on  the  floor,  a  neat  sheet  of  blotting 
paper  on  the  Librarian's  table  will  add  very  much  to  the 
pleasantness  of  the  room,  and  will  not  cost  a  great  deal. 

Probably  the  neighbors  would  contribute  some  flowers 
and  chairs  and  a  small  deal  table  with  a  drawer  in  it  for  a 
Librarian's  desk.  This  would  be  sufficient  for  several 
years  to  come. 

Have  a  nice  large  table  of  plain  deal,  and  keep  on  it 
the  newest  numbers  of  the  magazines  neatly  arranged.  If 
your  income  is  small  do  not  subscribe  to  the  more  ex- 
pensive ones.  At  first  take  McClure,  Munsey,  Ladies 
Home  Journal,  Youth's  Companion,  American  Agricul- 
turalist and  the  New  York  Times  Saturday  Book  Review. 
Nearly  all  can  be  had  for  $i  each,  and  there  is  not  one  of 
them  that  will  not  give  an  immense  amount  of  pleasure 
and  profit  to  its  readers. 

Later  in  the  Library's  life,  you  will  probably  want  to 
add  Harper  and  the  Century,  Scribner  and  Country  Life, 
etc.,  but  probably  not  at  first. 

Do  not  buy  any  books  the  first  year  or  so  which  will 
not  be  used  or  read  a  good  deal.  George  F.  Bowerman, 
Librarian  of  the  Wilmington  Institute  Free  Library,  and  a 
member  of  the  State  Library  Commission,  has  offered  to 
give  any  Delaware  District  Library  the  benefit  of  his  ex- 
pert knowledge  in  this  matter,  and  if  you  will  write  to 
him,  or  go  to  see  him,  and  tell  him  how  much  money  you 


28 

have  for  books,  he  will  aid  you  to  make  a  selection,  or 
make  one  for  you,  and  will  get  for  you  the  largest  discount 
possible  from  his  own  dealers.  This  aid  will  save  inex- 
perienced book  committees  a  great  deal  of  money,  and 
many  mistakes,  and  they  cannot  do  better  than  to  avail 
themselves  of  the  offer. 

A  hundred  dollars  should  give  you  about  forty  or  fifty 
good  novels,  nearly  as  many  children's  books,  about  thirty 
volumes  of  history,  travel,  biography,  farming,  and  a 
reference  book  or  two,  like  some  of  Brewer's  Handbooks, 
or  Bartlett's  Familiar  quotations. 

There  are  numbers  of  excellent  books  to  be  had  for  the 
asking,  if  one  is  interested  enough  to  write  a  polite  letter, 
enclosing  a  stamp,  and  wise  enough  to  appreciate  the 
value  of  the  gift  of  a  pamphlet  or  an  unbound  book. 

Many  of  the  railroads  issue  most  attractive  and  inter- 
esting books  about  places  on  their  routes,  and  many  shops 
advertise  themselves  by  giving  information  about  the 
articles  which  are  their  specialties.  For  instance,  Wright, 
Tyndall  &  Van  Roden,  of  Philadelphia,  have  a  "Book  of 
Pottery  Marks,"  by  W.  Percival  Jervis,  which  is  an  ex- 
cellent book  of  reference  for  those  interested  in  this  sub- 
ject. 

If  such  books  are  kept  carefully,  they  form  quite  a 
valuable  addition  to  the  working  stock  of  small  libraries 
which  cannot  afford  expensive  individual  works  on  the 
topics  treated,  nor  yet  cyclopedias. 

The  World  Almanac,  at  25  cents,  will  provide  a  Library 
with  a  most  varied  fund  of  information  about  innumerable 
subjects  upon  which  people  are  always  asking  questions — 
such  as  the  following  :  The  labor  laws  ;  the  members  of 
the  Senate ;  the  records  of  trotting  horses ;  when  and 
where  Maude  Adams  was  born  ;  who  is  the  oldest  of  the 
"Forty  Immortals"  of  the  "Academy"  and  why  Cardinal 
Richelieu  founded  it  in  1635  ;  how  many  survivors  of  the 
War  of  1812  are  on  the  pension  rolls,  and  a  vast  assort- 


29 

ment  of  educational,  governmental,  masonic,  sporting  and 
scientific  statistics  of  all  sorts — geographical,  climatic, 
genealogical  and  banking  information.  It  will  be  more 
useful  and  more  easily  consulted  than  many  a  more  ex- 
pensive book  or  set  of  books. 

From  even  the  smallest  Library  thus  equipped  you  can 
get  a  great  deal  of  information  at  very  trifling  expense  and 
trouble,  and  the  sooner  your  District  Library  is  begun  the 
better  for  all  concerned. 

For  details  of  management,  etc.,  you  are  referred  to 
both  preceding  and  succeeding  pages  in  this  handbook  and 
to  Plummer's  "Hints  for  Small  Libraries,"  both  of 
which  you  will  do  well  to  read  with  care,  and  to  re- 
fer to  as  difficulties  arise.  If  met  in  a  right  spirit, 
it  is  only  fun  to  solve  those  difficulties,  and  your 
Library  will  become  a  delight  and  enjoyment  to  you  all. 

Make  its  atmosphere  as  bright,  hospitable  and  informal 
as  you  possibly  can  ;  extend  its  privileges  as  freely  as  you 
know  how ;  keep  it  clean,  have  flowers  in  it,  and  sunshine 
in  winter,  shade  in  summer,  courtesy  and  kindliness  at  all 
times,  and  there  is  no  question  that  it  will  prosper  and  do 
good. 


SUPPLIES. 

Even  the  smallest  Library  will  need  : 
Accession  book. 
Registration  book. 
Book-stamp. 
Book-pockets. 
Book  cards. 
Borrower's  cards. 
Catalogue  cards. 

The  last  three  items  had  best  be  bought  of  the  Library 
Bureau. 

The  first  four  can  be  got  from  any  stationer. 


30 

ACCESSION  BOOK. 

For  the  accession  book  in  which  to  keep  a  record  of 
each  addition  to  the  Library,  a  ruled  blank  book  about  8 
by  10  inches  will  do.  The  Librarian  can  rule  vertical 
lines  in  it  on  each  page,  so  spaced  that  she  can  enter  in 
columns  the  following  items  about  each  book,  and  to  do 
so  will  take  the  two  pages  facing  each  other  and  necessitate 
using  abbreviations  when  possible  :  Date  (when  entry 
made}.  Accession  No.  Author  (surname,  followed  by 
initials).  Title  (very  brief).  Place  (where  published). 
Publisher  (first  name  of  firm  is  enough).  Date  (of  publi- 
cation). Pages  (those  numbered  in  main  part  of  book). 
Size.  Binding  (whether  cloth,  paper  or  leather,  etc.) 
Source  (who  gave  it  or  of  whom  it  was  bought).  Cost. 
Remarks  (whether  re -bound,  lost  or  withdrawn).  Each 
horizontal  line  should  be  numbered,  and  the  same 
number  neatly  written  at  the  bottom  of  the  first  page  fol- 
lowing the  title  page  in  the  book  which  is  described  on 
that  line. 

Never  give  the  same  number  twice — if  a  book  is  lost  or 
destroyed  its  number  is  lost  too,  and  a  duplicate  book  or  a 
second  copy  must  have  a  new  number. 

In  such  cases  be  sure  to  write  in  "Remarks"  what  has 
become  of  the  missing  book — and  it  is  well  to  draw  a 
straight  line  right  through  its  record  to  show  at  a  glance 
that  you  no  longer  have  that  book. 

REGISTRATION  BOOK. 

The  registration  book  may  be  just  such  another  blank 
book  as  the  accession  book,  and  its  use  as  well  as  that  of 
the  book  cards,  borrowers'  cards  and  book  pockets  is  care- 
fully and  clearly  described  in  this  handbook.  (See  index.) 

BOOK  STAMP. 

The  book  stamp  is  merely  a  rubber  stamp  to  be  used 
with  an  ink  pad.  It  should  bear  the  name  and  address  of 
the  Library,  and  is  employed  as  a  mark  of  identification  of 


the    Library's   property,  to   be  stamped    in  each  book  to 
show  to  whom  it  belongs. 

Take  pains  to  stamp  your  books  evenly  and  carefully 
and  always  in  the  same  places  in  each  separate  book — say 
on  the  inside  cover,  on  the  first  and  last  pages,  and  on  the 
margins  of  pp.  25  and  50.  If  used  with  care  the  stamps 
will  not  disfigure  the  books.  You  will  find  a  green,  black, 
purple  or  blue  ink  pad  preferable,  as  the  red  pads  are  of  a 
very  ugly  tint. 

CLASSIFICATION. 

Even  in  the  smallest  Libraries  it  will  be  far  better  to 
use  at  least  so  much  of  the  Dewey  Decimal  Classification 
as  is  described  in  Plummer's  "Hints  to  Small  Libraries," 
because  it  will  save  trouble  as  the  Library  grows,  but  in 
the  beginning  if  there  are  only  100  to  300  books  it  may 
seem  easier  to  roughly  class  the  books  in  groups  as  follows  : 

A — Reference  books  (dictionaries,  encyclopedias, 
almanacs,  etc.) 

B — Biography. 

C — History  (including  politics,  economics  and  social 
science. ) 

D — Literature  (including  essays,  sermons  and  religion.) 

E — Science  (including  useful  arts,  agriculture,  educa- 
tion, etc.,) 

F — Fiction. 

G — Description,  geography  (including  voyages  and 
travels. ) 

J — Juveniles  or  children's  books. 

K — Amusements,  games  and  sports. 

L — Fine  arts  (including  painting,  photography,  de- 
signing, sculpture,  etc.) 

M — Miscellaneous. 

All  librarians  are  advised  to  take  the  trouble  to  under- 
stand the  Decimal  Classification,  however,  as  its  groupings 
are  logical  and  elastic,  and  are  readily  comprehended  as 
one  grows  accustomed  to  their  use. 


32 

Whatever  system  is  employed  the  class  marks  should  be 
neatly  written  in  the  cover  of  each  book  close  to  the  upper 
left  hand  corner,  and  also  on  the  catalogue  and  shelf  list 
cards  as  elsewhere  described.  Then  arrange  the  books 
on  the  shelves  according  to  their  class,  and  arrange  each 
class  alphabetically  by  the  author's  surname. 

CATALOGUE. 

For  very  small  libraries  a  shelf  list  will  serve  for  a 
catalogue  for  a  few  years.  Write  very  neatly  on  your 
cards  (see  index),  the  following  items  in  the  following 
order,  giving  one  card  to  each  book  unless  the  work  is  in 
more  than  one  volume,  then  one  card  does  for  them  all : 

Class    No Author's  surname,    initials 

Author's   Initial Title   (brief) 

Accession  No. Vol.  (No.  if  more  than  one) 

Date  (of  publication) 

Arrange  the  cards  in  the  same  order  in  their  box  that 
you  have  the  books  on  the  shelves,  do  not  allow  any  one 
to  remove  them  nor  to  alter  their  arrangement,  though  if 
you  use  this  shelf  list  for  a  catalogue  you  must  give  your 
public  free  access  to  the  cards  as  well  as  to  the  books. 

RULES. 
For  rules,  etc.,  (see  index). 

NEWSPAPER  CLIPPINGS  DESIRED. 

The  State  Library  Commission  of  Delaware  wishes  to 
keep  a  complete  record  of  the  growth  of  public,  school  and 
traveling  libraries  in  the  State.  To  the  end  that  it  may 
successfully  do  so,  it  asks  Librarians  and  all  friends  of 
libraries  in  Delaware,  to  send  clippings  or  newspapers 
showing  the  beginnings  and  growth  of  all  Libraries.  Notes 
of  improvements,  changes,  new  books,  gifts,  entertain- 
ments for  libraries,  criticisms,  reports — all  will  be  grate- 
fully received  by  the  State  Library  Commission,  Dover, 
Delaware. 


33 


Books  should  to  one  of  these  four  ends  conduce 
For  wisdom,  piety,  delight  or  use. 

CHAUCER. 


When  a  book  raises  your  spirit  and  inspires  you  with  noble  and 
courageous  feelings,  seek  for  no  other  rule  to  judge  the  event  by  ;  it  is 
good  and  made  by  a  good  workman. — DE  LA  BRUYERE. 


SELECTION  AND  PURCHASE  OF  BOOKS. 

If  possible  the  selection  of  books  should  rest  with  the 
Librarian  under  the  general  supervision  of  the  Library 
Commission  or  Book  Committee.  In  making  a  selection 
it  will  not  be  wise  to  consider  merely  the  amount  of  money 
in  hand  to  be  expended,  but  also  the  sums  which  will 
probably  be  available  for  each  succeeding  year. 

The  choice  should  be  influenced  by  the  occupations  and 
leading  interests  of  the  community,  its  character,  and  aver- 
age intelligence  and  habits.  Keep  in  mind  the  avowed 
purposes  of  the  free  tax  supported  Library,  viz  :  To  help 
people  to  be  happy,  to  help  them  to  become  wise,  to  en- 
courage them  to  be  good. 

Remember  that  it  is  for  all,  and  the  first  books  bought 
should  therefore  be  those  which  experience  shows  that 
people  enjoy.  They  should  be  wholesome  and  interesting, 
and  should  be  in  large  proportion  for  children. 

Fortunately  the  whole  world  enjoys  the  best  children's 
books,  and  as  children  are  the  Library's  best  pupils,  they 
should  be  most  considered.  Through  the  children,  homes 
are  reached.  Through  their  use  of  the  Library,  and  their 
approval  of  it,  they  add  to  its  popularity. 

The  small  District  Library  in  its. early  life  may  well  be- 
gin near  the  level  of  the  community's  average  reading, 
but  as  it  is  the  purpose  of  the  Public  Library  to  develop 
some  degree  of  literary  culture  among  its  readers,  the  se- 
lection of  books  for  it  should  always  strive  to  be  a  little  in 
advance  of  public  demand,  for  as  a  rule  people  will  read 


34 

books  which  are  above  their  own    intellectual  and  moral 
standards,  and  hence  are  benefited  by  reading. 

The  initial  collection  of  a  Library  may  well  be  based  upon 
the  subject  list  of  the  catalogue  of  the  "A.  L.  A."  Model 
Library  of  8,000  volumes  to  be  shown  by  the  American 
Library  Association  at  the  Louisiana  Purchase  Exposition, 
1904,  (Library  of  Congress,  Washington,  D.  C.  Free.), 
and  to  a  large  extent  its  books  should  also  be  included  in 
any  Library.  By  this  means  a  broad  foundation  for  the 
Library  will  be  established,  and  upon  it  the  Library  can 
be  built  up  and  enlarged  to  meet  the  special  needs  of  those 
who  use  it,  and  what  these  needs  are  to  be  only  experience 
can  teach. 

The  proportion  of  books  in  the  various  departments  of 
knowledge  must  necessarily  vary  in  different  libraries,  but 
the  following,  recommended  by  J.  C.  Dana  in  his  ad- 
mirable "Library  Primer"  (Library  Bureau,  $i),  will  be 
a  good  general  guide  : 

Per  Cent. 

General  works 04 

Philosophy     .    .    .    . 01 

Religion : 02 

Sociology 09 

Philology •    •    .    .     .01 

Science       08 

Useful  arts 06 

Fine  arts 04 

Literature 12 

Biography 10 

History 13 

Travel     .    . 10 

Fiction    .  20 


Total ioo 

No  Library,   however   small,    can  dispense    with    some 
books   of  reference,    but   it  is    not  necessary  to  buy  the 


35 

most  expensive — for  instance,  the  New  International  or  the 
new  edition  of  Chambers'  Encyclopedia,  would  be  far  more 
useful  in  any  small  Library  than  the  Encyclopedia  Brit- 
tanica  and  it  costs  about  a  third  as  much. 

An  excellent  list  of  reference  books  will  be  found  in 
"Hints  to  small  libraries."  (see  index. )  A  knowledge 
of  one's  state  and  one's  county  should  assuredly  be  de- 
veloped as  much  as  possible.  Books  of  local  and  national 
biography,  natural  science,  politics,  literature  and  history 
should  be  purchased  as  largely  as  the  library  funds  justify, 
while  it  will  not  be  wise  to  devote  much  money  to  the 
purchase  of  rare  or  very  old  books  which  will  never  be 
read. 

Much  can  be  done  in  the  direction  of  fostering  local 
historical  interests  by  collecting  and  storing  all  manner  of 
materials  for  preserving  local  records.  Programmes  of  en- 
tertainments given  to  further  public  enterprises,  local 
theatre  programmes,  library  notices,  photographs  of  old 
landmarks — often  issued  as  advertisements— these  and 
many  other  unconsidered  trifles  will  eventually  become 
valuable,  and  can  be  acquired  and  kept  at  little  or  no  ex- 
pense by  the  Free  Public  Libraries,  if  the  Librarians  are 
sufficiently  interested.  A  note  in  the  local  papers  may 
bring  the  Library  valuable  gifts  of  this  sort,  and  a  cour- 
teous acknowledgment  of  every  gift,  however  small,  be  it 
of  books,  money  or  papers,  will  help  to  make  friends  for 
the  Library  and  keep  alive  interest  in  its  work. 

"Books  of  purely  ephemeral  value,  books  made  of  bass- 
wood  paper  and  printed  with  logwood  ink,  should  be  ex- 
cluded," says  Mr.  Hutchins  of  the  Wisconsin  Library 
Commission,  and  the  library  world  concurs  in  his  dictum. 

Therefore,  in  buying  standard  authors  always  choose 
good,  though  plain  editions,  for  the  expenses  of  rebinding 
and  of  strain  on  readers'  eyes  should  be  considered. 

In  buying  classics  choose  standard  full  editions,  such  as 
Bonn's. 


36 

In  buying  translations  select  only  the  best,  as  Worme- 
ley's  Balzac,  or  Wister's  from  the  German. 

In  buying  novels,  choose  well-bound,  well-printed  edi- 
tions. 

Do  not  buy  second  hand  books  unless  you  have  seen 
them  or  can  return  them  if  they  do  not  suit.  Unless  books 
are  clean  and  in  good  condition  the  public  will  abuse  them 
and  too  many  libraries  are  but  little  more  than  collections 
of  soiled  books. 

It  is  not  generally  possible  to  buy  advantageously  of  local 
dealers  at  present,  as  ordinarily  they  cannot  afford  to  give 
good  terms  and  frequently  are  unable  to  give  proper  assist- 
ance in  the  selection  .of  editions,  etc. 

It  is  usually  better  to  go  to  a  dealer  in  a  large  city  and  it 
is  much  more  economical  to  order  through  one  dealer  when 
possible,  in  order  to  avoid  annoyance,  mistakes,  extra  ex- 
pressage  and  correspondence.  A  good  dealer  will  be  able 
to  give  much  valuable  advice  as  to  editions  and  will  be 
careful  to  send  you  only  the  latest  scientific  publications. 
All  Libraries  should  receive  a  discount  of  at  least  10%. 

It  will  be  much  better  for  the  interests  of  the  Library  to 
make  the  book  purchases  frequent  rather  than  large,  both 
because  this  attains  greater  economy  in  preparing  the 
books  for  circulation,  and  because  they  come  before  the 
reader  with  more  sense  of  novelty  and  freshness.  "It  is 
better  to  spend  an  income  of  $600  per  year  in  monthly  in- 
stallments of  $50  than  it  is  to  buy  $300  lots  twice  a  year." 

Keep  a  record  of  all  orders.  For  books,  this  record 
should  be  on  separate  slips,  and  should  have  the  author's 
name,  brief  title,  number  of  volumes,  place,  publisher,  date 
and  if  possible,  the  publisher's  price,  dealer's  name,  date 
of  order,  and,  if  the  purchase  has  been  requested  by  a 
reader,  that  person's  name  and  address.  All  libraries 
should  encourage  their  readers  to  suggest  books  desired  by 
them  which  are  not  in  the  Library,  and  it  would  be  well 


37 

to  provide  slips  for  the  purpose  of  receiving  these  sugges- 
tions, and  as  far  as  practicable  they  should  be  acted  upon. 

The  Commission  issues  "Suggestive  lists  of  Books  for  a 
Small  Library"  in  conjunction  with  the  State  Library 
Commissions  of  Wisconsin,  Idaho,  Iowa,  Minnesota  and 
Nebraska,  and  these  lists  with  much  useful  information 
about  buying,  ordering,  etc.,  will  be  mailed  free  to  any 
one  who  will  write  to  the  State  Library  Commission  to 
ask  for  them.  Ten  of  these  lists  have  already  been  issued, 
and  they  have  been  found  invaluable  in  many  States  be- 
sides those  responsible  for  their  publication. 

They  have  been  complied  mainly  by  Frank  Hutchins 
of  the  Wisconsin  Free  Library  Commission,  than  whom 
no  one  is  more  competent  to  judge  of  books  for  such  a 
purpose,  and  the  books  selected  for  inclusion  in  the  lists 
have  been  actually  examined  before  being  admitted  to 
them. 

For  further  guidance  in  choosing  books  for  the  District 
Libraries  a  list  of  aids  and  guides  in  the  selection  of  books 
will  be  found  (see  index),  and  it  should  be  born  in  mind 
that  besides  those  mentioned  there  are  a  number  of  other 
excellent  lists  of  popular  books  comp'iled  by  experts  which 
can  be  had  at  cost  price  or  for  the  asking  from  Librarians 
or  publishers. 


If  a  book  be  of  religion,  and  brings  God  nearer  to  my  heart  and  life  ; 
if  it  be  of  humanity,  and  brings  me  nearer  to  the  heart  and  life  of  man  ; 
if  it  be  of  philosophy,  and  makes  this  universe  glow  to  me  with  a  new 
grace  ;  or  of  metaphysics,  and  brings  me  more  truly  to  myself ;  if  it  be 
poem,  or  story,  adventure  or  history,  or  biography,  and. I  feel  that  it 
makes  me  more  of  a  man,  more  dutiful,  and  sincere,  and  trusty,  then 
no  matter  who  wrote  it  or  what  men  may  say  about  it,  the  judgment  is 
set  in  my  own  soul. — REV.  ROBERT  COLLYER. 


A  use-ful  les-son  you  may  con 
My  Child,  from  the  Cham-e-le-on. 
He  has  the  Gift  ex-tre-me-ly  rare 
In  An-i-mals,  of  Savoir  Faire. 
And  if  the  secret  you  would  guess 
Of  the  Cham-e-le-on' s  Success, 
A-dapt  your-self  with  great-est  Care 
To  your  Sur-round-ings  ev-ery- where, 
And  then — unless  your  Sex  prevent — 
You  may  some-day,  be  Pres-i-dent ! 

HERFORD. 


THE  LIBRARIAN. 

Upon  this  subject  we  can  do  no  better  than  to  quote 
from  the  Wisconsin  Library  Commission's  Handbook.  Its 
presentation  of  the  requirements  for  a  Librarian  has  re- 
ceived cordial  endorsement  from  other  State  Library  Com- 
missions all  over  the  country,  and  from  all  Librarians,  and 
while  it  may  be  impossible  for  Delaware's  District  Library 
Commissions  in  every  instance,  to  act  upon  the  advice 
contained  in  the  following  extract,  its  general  trend  must 
be  kept  in  mind  if  the  Libraries  are  ever  to  attain  their 
highest  usefulness  and  noblest  ideals. 

"As  the  usefulness  of  the  Library  will  depend  upon  its 
Librarian,  the  greafest  care  should  be  exercised  in  se- 
lecting that  officer. 

"She  should  be  engaged  even  before  the  general  char- 
acter of  the  Library  and  plan  of  administration  have  been 
determined,  she  should  not  be  chosen  because  she  is  some- 
body's aunt,  because  she  is  poor  and  deserving,  because 
she  is  kindly,  because  she  belongs  to  a  certain  church  or 
literary  society,  nor  even  because  she  has  a  reputation  as  a 
reader  of  books. 

"She  should  have  culture,  executive  ability,  tact,  sym- 
pathy for  children  and  some  knowledge  of  library  methods. 

"Save  money  in  other  ways  but  never  by  employing  a 
forceless  man  or  woman  as  Librarian. 


39 

Trained  librarians  are  best,  but  if  you  have  but  little 
money  and  must  be  content  to  employ  some  local  applicant 
without  experience,  insist  that  the  appointee  shall  im- 
mediately make  an  intelligent  study  of  library  methods  in 
some  Library  School,  Summer  Library  School,  or  in  some 
small  Library. 

She  should  become  imbued  with  "library  spirit"  and  be 
keenly  alive  to  the  tremendous  possibilities  of  her  work. 

She  should  learn  how  to  get  help  from  other  Librarians, 
and  from  the  vast  store  of  library  experience  found  in 
books,  when  she  is  puzzled  by  professional  problems. 

Few  persons  in  a  community  have  such  great  oppor- 
tunities as  the  Librarian. 

Children  and  the  best  children's  books  should  be  her 
constant  associates  and  friends,  for  she  may  shape  the  read- 
ing, and  so  the  thoughts,  of  hundreds  of  impressionable 
little  ones.  She  should  be  a  leader  and  a  teacher,  earnest, 
enthusiastic  and  intelligent.  She  should  be  able  to  win 
the  confidence  of  children  and  should  be  wise  to  lead  them 
by  easy  stages  from  good  books  to  the  best. 

When  a  board  of  directors  can  secure  such  a  Librarian 
they  may.  wisely  afford  to  employ  her  even  if  her  salary 
eats  up  a  large  portion  of  the  income.  A  Librarian  should 
be  in  fact,  as  well  as  in  theory,  the  responsible  head  of  the 
Library  and  should  be  consulted  in  all  matters  relative  to 
its  management.  Directors  should  impose  responsibilities, 
grant  freedom  and  exact  results." 

Should  the  District  Library  Commission  deem  it  im- 
possible to  pay  for  the  services  of  a  trained  librarian,  they 
will  surely  be  able  to  find  in  every  community  some  young 
woman  of  good  education  and  pleasant  manner  and  ad- 
dress, whose  tastes  would  lead  her  to  undertake  her  work 
in  the  right  spirit — at  least — and  for  such  a  one  the  six 
weeks  of  training  in  one  of  the  summer  training  schools 
would  be  the  means  of  her  undertaking  her  work  with  an 


40 

intelligence,  helpfulness  and  enthusiasm  which  would  prove 
invaluable  to  the  interests  of  the  Library. 

It  would  also  be  wise  to  engage  the  services  of  a  trained 
organizer  from  one  of  the  Library  schools  for  a  few  weeks 
at  least,  to  guide  and  assist  the  Librarian  in  beginning  the 
work,  for  if  it  is  done  properly  at  first  it  will  not  need  to 
be  done  over  again  at  greater  expense  of  time  and  money 
at  a  later  stage  of  the  work  after  the  Library  has  grown  as 
it  needs  must  with  its  yearly  appropriations  from  District 
and  State. 

Advice  and  information  with  regard  to  permanent 
librarians,  their  terms,  etc.,  can  also  be  best  obtained  by 
application  to  the  Library  schools. 

To  the  Librarian  herself  may  be  quoted  this  advice  from 
one  of  the  strongest  and  most  original  of  America's 
librarians, — John  Cotton  Dana:  "Be  punctual ;  be  atten- 
tive ;  help  to  develop  enthusiasm  in  your  assistants ;  be 
neat  and  consistent  in  your  dress ;  be  dignified  but 
courteous  in  your  manner.  Be  careful  in  your  contracts ; 
be  square  with  your  board  ;  be  concise  and  technical  ;  be 
accurate  ;  be  courageous  and  self-reliant ;  be  careful  about 
acknowledgments  ;  be  not  worshipped  of  your  work ;  be 
careful  of  your  health.  Last  of  all,  be  yourself?" 


Books  let  us  into  the  souls  of  men,  and  lay  open  to  us  the  secrets  of 
our  own.  They  are  the  first  and  last,  the  most  home-felt,  the  most 
heart-felt  of  all  our  enjoyments.  WILLIAM  HAZLITT. 


GENERAL  POLICY  OF  A  LIBRARY. 

Make  the  regulations  few  and  unobtrusive.  Let  the 
atmosphere  of  the  Library  be  cheerful  and  orderly,  and 
insist  that  Librarian  and  assistants  thall  treat  every  one, 
young  and  old,  ignorant  or  educated,  with  a  uniform 
obliging  courtesy. 

Have  open  shelves  and  give  the  public  free  access  to  the 


41 

books.  They  like  to  handle  and  examine  the  books  and 
it  is  a  valuable  part  of  their  education  that  they  should  do 
so.  One  may  well  "give  the  people  at  least  such  liberty 
with  their  own  collection  of  books  as  the  bookseller  gives 
them  with  his.  Trust  the  American  genius  for  self-control. 
Remember  the  deference  for  the  rights  of  others  with 
which  you  and  your  fellows  conduct  yourselves  in  your 
own  homes,  at  public  tables,  at  general  gatherings"  (y.  C. 
Dana},  and  remember  always  that  the  Library  can  only 
perform  its  high  functions  in  proportion  to  the  use  it  re- 
ceives. 

People  will  go  to  a  Library  because  they  like  to  go  and 
not  because  some  one  else  thinks  they  ought  to,  and  any 
policy  which  imposes  unnecessary  checks  upon  the  public 
will  help  to  render  the  Libraries  by  just  so  much  the  less 
agreeable  and  will  seriously  lessen  their  usefulness. 

Such  rules  and  regulations  as  are  passed  should  be  en- 
forced, but  see  to  it  that  they  are  as  few  and  as  little 
annoying  to  the  public  as  possible. 

It  cannot  be  too  strongly  impressed  upon  those  in  charge 
of  libraries  that  the  work  of  greatest  consequence  in  a  Free 
Public  Library  will  probably  not  take  the  form  of  inspiring 
a  book  output  which  is  the  result  of  careful  research  or 
which  will  be  a  valuable  contribution  to  science,  art  or  in- 
dustry, but  rather  in  the  general  and  gradual  elevation  of 
intellectual  tone  in  our  small  communities,  the  stimulation 
of  an  enduring  spirit,  an  interest  in  the  thought  of  the 
world,  and  in  broadening  the  minds  of  average  men  and 
women.  The  Free  Public  Library  is  the  school  of  the 
many,  but  if  "the  many"  play  truant  it  will  not  be 
an  effective  school — they  must  work  in  it,  play  in  it, 
handle  its  books,  and  by  so  doing  come  to  know  them, 
use  them,  and  gain  wisdom  from  that  use. 

It  is  strongly  urged  that  all"  Delaware' s  Free  Libraries 
should  extend  their  privileges  fully  and  cordially  to  their 
country  neighbors,  and  that,  should  the  District  Library 


42 

Commissions  feel  it  necessary  to  exact  a  fee  for  this  ex- 
tension of  the  privileges,  they  will  endeavor  to  make  the 
fee  as  small  a  one  as  possible. 


By  reading  of  books,  we  may  learn  something  from  all  parts  of  man- 
kind ;  whereas  by  observation  we  learn  all  from  ourselves,  and  only 
what  comes  within  our  own  direct  cognizance.  By  conversation  we 
can  only  enjoy  the  unction  of  a  very  few  persons,  those  who  are  mov- 
ing, and  live  at  the  same  time  that  we  do — that  is,  our  neighbors  and 
contemporaries,  — WATTS. 


READING  ROOM. 

Wherever  there  is  a  possibility  of  a  reading  room  there 
should  be  one  in  connection  with  the  Library,  for  they  often 
prove  its  most  attractive  feature.  The  general  atmosphere 
of  this  room  should  be  as  quiet,  cheerful,  orderly  and  in- 
viting as  possible. 

There  should  be  no  signs  commanding  the  users  of  the 
Library  to  do  or  not  to  do  various  things.  If  the  Librarian 
finds  that  patrons  abuse  their  privileges,  or  are  noisy  or 
otherwise  inconsiderate  of  the  rights  of  others,  she  must  try 
to  tactfully  bring  about  the  change  she  requires,  and  she 
may  occasionally  post  a  notice  courteously  requesting  it. 
Signs  giving  helpful  information  to  readers  are  of  course 
permissible,  but  it  should  be  seen  to  that  they  harmonize 
with  the  furnishing  of  the  room  and  are  clean.  Gray  or 
some  other  neutral  tint  is  usually  preferable  to  white  card 
board  for  all  such  signs. 

For  use  in  the  reading  room,  a  village  Library  ought  to 
keep  the  files  of  local  papers  and  if  the  funds  permit  the 
expenditure,  one  or  two  dailies  or  a  weekly  from  the  near- 
est large  town.  It  would  scarcely  be  expedient  to  go  furth- 
er in  this  direction — the  money  used  could  be  more  use- 
fully applied  elsewhere.  It  may  be  suggested  that  local 
editors  are  often  willing  from  motives  of  civic  pride,  to 
give  the  local  libraries  copies  of  their  papers  free  of  charge, 


43 

and  they  would  unquestionably  be  the  more  inclined  to  do 
so  were  they  assured  that  the  files  would  be  kept  for 
reference. 


It  is  a  tie  between  men  to  have  read  the  same  book  ;  and  it  is  a  dis- 
advantage not  to  have  read  the  book  your  mates  have  readr  or  not  to 
have  read  it  at  the  same  time,  so  that  it  may  take  the  place  in  your  cul- 
ture it  does  in  theirs,  and  you  shall  understand  their  allusions  to  itr  and 
not  give  it  more  or  less  emphasis  than  they  do. — EMERSON. 


PERIODICALS. 

More  than  one  little  struggling  Library  has  been  enabled 
to  hold  its  own  with  its  small  Public  by  means  of  two  or 
three  sets  of  Periodicals,  and  has  been  enabled  by  their 
means  to  accomplish  work  which  could  not  have  been  so  well 
done  by  the  aid  of  many  professed  books  of  reference,  the 
purchase  of  which  would  have  exhausted  the  entire  book 
fund.  "Given  Poole's  Index  and  a  complete  set  of  Littell'' 's 
Living  Age  ($6  a  year),  and  of  Harper  ($4  a  year),  more 
work  can  be  done  than  with  twice  that  number  of  reference 
books  not  periodicals,"  says  Frederic  W.  Faxon,  of  the 
Boston  Book  Co. 

They  furnish  us  with  the  best  fiction,  the  best  poetry, 
the  best  discussions  of  all  subjects  old  and  new  ;  the  latest 
science,  and  beyond  all  this  they  draw  us  into  relation  with 
the  great  outer  world  and  the  current  of  human  interests  in 
all  fields  and  on  all  subjects. 

It  will  do  far  more  to  stimulate  the  mental  life  of  a  com- 
munity and  to  broaden  its  horizon,  deepen  its  sympathies, 
awaken  its  observation  and  encourage  its  aspirations,  if  the 
village  Library  diverts  a  part  of  its  book  fund  from  acquir- 
ing inferior  books,  and  more  especially  inferior  novels,  to 
the  purchase  and  care  of  good  periodicals. 

These  not  only  play  the  part  of  inciting  and  creating  in- 
terests of  various  sorts,  but  they  are  most  valuable  for  ref- 
erence work.  In  the  better  class  of  reviews,  one  who 


44 

knows  how  to  look,  will  usually  find  both  sides  of  almost 
any  subject  in  articles  written  by  the  most  eminent  students 
of  that  subject,  and  in  a  language  intelligible  to  all. 

This  mine  of  information  is  opened  to  the  reader  in 
small  libraries  by  the  use  of  Poole's  Index  of  magazines, 
abridged,  indexing  to  the  close  of  1900,  and  by  the  Read- 
er's Guide  to  Periodical  Literature  (Wilson,  Minneapolis, 
$6  a  year)  indexing  to  date.  By  means  of  these  indexes 
a  Library  has  the  equipment  for  tracing  almost  any  maga- 
zine article  wanted.  The  new  index  to  St.  Nicholas,  pub- 
lished by  H.  W.  Wilson,  Minneapolis,  for  $4,  would  be 
simply  invaluable  to  teachers  and  children  in  any  Library 
so  fortunate  as  to  own  even  a  partial  set  of  the  27  bound 
volumes  which  compose  that  treasure  house  of  childhood 
and  it  would  often  be  of  service  to  others  seeking  a  fa- 
miliar and  untechnical  treatment  of  many  topics. 

To  attract  children  it  would  be  wise  to  have  a  few  good 
juvenile  magazines — say  St.  Nicholas  and  The  Youth s 
Companion — and  as  for  the  standard  and  popular  monthlies 
and  quarterlies,  there  should  be  no  question  as  to  taking 
them — they  are  a  necessity.  Whether  the  Library  has  a 
reading  room  or  not,  these  should  be  taken  as  freely  as  the 
Library  funds  admit. 

Post  a  list  of  the  periodicals  regularly  received  by  the 
Library  in  the  Reading  Room,  and  also  a  list  of  those 
taken  which  are  indexed  in  "Poole,"  or  in  the  "Reader's 
Guide,"  or  in  the  St.  Nicholas  Index  if  you  possess  the  in- 
dexes. (See  p.  46.)  These  three  lists  might  be  neatly 
type  written  on  one  page,  if  the  list  is  a  small  one,  or  on 
two  or  more  fastened  together,  if  larger. 

It  would  be  well  to  send  a  copy  of  these  lists  to  your 
local  papers  three  or  four  times  a  year,  and  to  ask  their 
readers  to  cut  out  and  keep  the  slips.  Post  these  lists, 
and  those  recording  additions  of  new  books,  or  reading 
lists  on  some  subject  of  local  or  of  passing  interest,  in  the 
schools,  the  post  office,  in  R.  R.  stations,  in  the  hotels, 


45 

the  shop  windows,  grange  meetings,  or,  wherever  else  they 
may  call  attention  to  the  fact  that  the  Library  is  trying  to 
serve  its  community. 

The  custom  of  circulating  the  unbound  back  numbers  of 
current  magazines  is  growing  in  favor  in  American  libra- 
ries, though  the  readers  are  generally  not  allowed  to 
keep  them  more  than  three  days  or  a  week,  and  without 
the  privilege  of  renewal.  If  this  is  done,  the  magazines 
should  be  put  in  binders  made  to  fit  the  magazine,  and 
marked  both  with  its  and  the  Library's  name,  in  order  to 
identify  it  as  the  Library's  property  and  to  keep  the  ma- 
gazine clean  and  smooth.  Strong  manila  paper  covers 
will  be  found  fairly  satisfactory  for  this  purpose,  though  a 
cheap  temporary  binding  is  better. 

A  careful  record  should  be  kept  of  each  magazine 
ordered,  of  whom  ordered,  of  the  cost  of  subscription, 
and  of  the  dates  when  ordered,  when  the  subscription  be- 
gins and  expires,  and  of  the  agency's  receipted  bill.  The 
Commission  recommends  the  system  of  record  described 
in  "Hints  to  Small  Libraries."  It  will  be  found  compact, 
economical  and  accurate.  (See  index. ) 

It  is  best  and  most  economical  both  of  time  and  money 
to  order  periodicals  through  an  agency,  and  to  arrange  that 
subscriptions  shall  coincide  with  the  calendar  year,  disre- 
garding the  volume  arrangements  of  the  publishers.  From 
5  to  20  per  cent,  can  often  be  saved  on  the  cost  of  per- 
iodicals by  ordering  them  in  this  way  through  a  reliable 
subscription  agency. 


Love  of  reading  enables  a  man  to  exchange  the  weary  hours  which 
come  to  every  one,  for  hours  of  delight. — MONTESQUIEU. 


46 

PERIODICAL  INDEXES. 

Poolers  Index  to  Periodical  Literature.  Abridged 
edition.  Houghton.  $12. 

Reader's  Guide  to  Periodical  Literature.  H.  W.  Wil- 
son, Minneapolis,  Minn.  $6.  Each  month's  issue 
cumulates  the  entries  of  the  previous  numbers  of  62  ma- 
gazines, covering  the  period  from  Jan.  ist  to  date. 

Index  to  St.  Nicholas.  H.  W.  Wilson,  Minneapolis, 
Minn.  $4. 


There  are  three  classes  of  readers  ;  some  enjoy  without  judgment  ; 
others  judge  without  enjoyment  ;  and  some  there  are  who  judge  while 
they  enjoy,  and  enjoy  while  they  judge. — GOETHE. 


LIBRARY  MANAGEMENT. 

Libraries  started  with  an  assured  income,  however  small, 
with  a  right  spirit,  a  good  Librarian  and  even  a  few  enter- 
taining books,  can  hardly  fail  of  success.  Many  problems 
will  arise  as  the  Library  grows,  but  much  help  in  solving 
them  may  always  be  obtained  from  the  experience  of  others. 
Therefore  it  is  most  necessary  for  those  engaged  in  organiz- 
ing libraries  to  get  thoroughly  into  touch  with  their  co-work- 
ers elsewhere  in  order  that  they  may  be  able  to  take  ad- 
vantage of  the  store  of  accumulated  experience  thus  to  be 
obtained. 

It  is  much  better  not  to  begin  by  projecting  great  plans 
at  the  outset,  but  it  is  wisdom  to  make  a  beginning,  how- 
ever small,  and  to  "cross  your  bridges  as  you  come  to 
them"  is  a  very  good  general  rule  for  the  village  library. 
Whatever  it  succeeds  in  doing  becomes  a  fulcrum  for 
further  efforts,  and  will  aid  and  illustrate  the  arguments 
for  interesting  people  in  the  work. 

In  newspaper  and  other  notices  of  the  Library,  it  will 
often  be  found  wiser  to  refrain  from  figures  and  to  give 


47 

only  general  statements  as  to  what  it  has  accomplished  and 
what  it  hopes  to  do. 

As  regards  the  details  of  management,  no  District  Li- 
brary Commission  can  do  better  than  to  adopt  in  general 
the  advice  contained  in  Miss  Mary  W.  Plummer's  "Hints 
to  Small  Libraries"  of  which  a  copy  will  be  presented  by 
the  State  Library  Commission,  to  any  Free  Public  Library 
or  District  Library  Commission  of  Delaware,  which  will 
apply  for  it.  The  plans  laid  down  in  this  very  admirable 
little  work  are  capable  of  expansion  to  meet  the  needs  of 
rapidly  growing  Libraries  and  the  means  and  methods  Miss 
Plummer  describes  are  at  once  economical,  practical  and 
liberal.  All  readers  are  referred  to  her  book  for  explana- 
tion of  the  technical  terms  in  the  series  of  recommenda- 
tions that  follow,  but  those  whose  little  libraries  must  be- 
gin at  the  very  beginning,  whose  income  must  long  remain 
but  a  few  dollars  a  year,  whose  Librarian's  salary  must  be 
so  small  that  it  can  scarcely  be  seen  without  the  aid  of  a 
miscroscope — these  readers  are  especially  asked  to  turn 
also  to  "Suggestions  to  very  Small  Libraries"  on  /.  25, 
whose  recommendations  may  be  found  more  immediately 
useful  to  them. 

Classification.  The  Commission  recommends  that  the 
Dewey  Decimal  system  of  classifying  books  be  adopted 
in  all  Libraries  possessing  as  many  as  1000  volumes,  as 
being  more  widely  used  than  any  other,  as  being  "less 
expensive  ;  more  easily  understood,  remembered  and  used  ; 
practical  rather  than  theoretical ;  brief  and  familiar  in  its 
nomenclature ;  best  for  arranging  pamphlets,  sale  dupli- 
cates and  notes,  and  for  indexing  ;  susceptible  of  partial 
and  gradual  adoption  without  confusion  ;  more  conven- 
ient in  keeping  statistics,  and  checks  for  books  off  the 
shelves  ;  the  most  satisfactory  adaptation  of  the  card  cata- 
logue principle  to  the  shelves.  It  requires  less  space  to 
shelve  the  books  ;  uses  simpler  symbols  and  fewer  of  them  ; 
can  be  expanded  without  limit  and  without  confusion  or 


48 

waste  of  labor,  in  both  catalogues  and  on  shelves,  or  in 
catalogues  alone-;  checks  more  thoroughly  and  conven- 
iently against  mistakes ;  admits  more  readily  numerous 
cross  references ;  is  unchangeable  in  its  call  numbers, 
and  so  gives  them  in  all  places  where  needed;  in  its  in- 
dex affords  an  answer  to  the  greatest  objection  to  class 
catalogues,  and  is  the  first  satisfactory  union  of  the  advan- 
tages of  the  class  and  dictionary  systems" — it  is,  on  the 
whole,  as  elastic  and  satisfactory  as  any  known  system  of 
classification  and  is  to  be  had  already  worked  out  and 
printed  in  a  convenient  and  intelligible  and  inexpensive 
form. 

The  "Abridged  Decimal  Classification  and  Relativ 
Index"  will  be  found  the  most  satisfactory  for  libraries  of 
not  more  than  five  thousand  volumes,  and  its  use  allows  of 
easy  expansion  into  the  unabridged  form  should  the  change 
prove  necessary.  (Library  Bureau.  $i.) 

Plummer's  "Hints  to  Small  Libraries"  contains  a  few  of 
its  main  divisions,  and  with  the  aid  of  her  clear  explana- 
tion no  Librarian  will  find  the  system  troublesome  to  use 
even  for  the  very  smallest  collection  of  books. 

Author  Book  Numbers.  The  Commission  recommends 
the  use  of  the  "Cutter  Book  Numbers,"  ($i.)  with 
full  explanations  of  how  to  use  them.  A  little  attention 
will  make  the  system  easy  to  apply.  Somewhat  simplified 
explanations  will  be  sent  on  request  by  the  State  Library 
Commission  with  Miss  Plummer's  "Hints  to  Small  Libra- 
ries." The  use  of  these  tables -in  assigning  distinguish- 
ing book  numbers  greatly  facilitates  the  arrangement  of  all 
the  books  in  a  given  group  or  class  in  the  alphabetical 
order  of  their  authors'  names,  both  on  the  shelves  and  in 
the  catalogue,  and  they  are  a  great  convenience  to  the 
librarian,  and,  if  free  access  to  the  shelves  is  allowed,  as 
the  Commission  strongly  recommends,  to  the  public  also. 

Catalogue.  The  Commission  strongly  recommends 
that  all  libraries  should  keep  their  catalogues  on  cards. 


49 

The  public  will  immediately  ask  for  printed  lists  or  cata- 
logues, but  only  the  richest  institutions  can  afford  to  have 
them.  They  are  very  expensive,  they  are  out  of  date  be- 
fore issued,  they  cannot  often  be  sold  ;  they  require  train- 
ing and  experience  to  make  properly,  and  the  money  and 
time  they  cost  had  far  better  be  expended  otherwise. 

Print  lists  of  new  books  in  the  newspapers  and  save  the 
slips.  Post  them  in  the  Library.  Send  them  to  the 
schools,  the  reading,  study  and  debating  clubs,  and 
women's  clubs,  the  P.  O.,  the  R.  R.  stations— anywhere 
and  everywhere  in  short,  where  they  may  call  attention  to 
the  fact  that  the  Library  lives  and  grows.  Then  put  your 
time,  skill,  energy  and  money  into  the  making  of  a  full 
card  catalogue  ;  keep  it  up  to  date  ;  give  the  Public  ac- 
cess to  it ;  then  teach  them  how  to  use  it,  and  you  will 
find  the  printed  catalogue  unneeded.  The  Commission 
recommends  using  the  " Dictionary"  form  of  card  cata- 
logue, on  "33  1. 'standard  catalogue  cards,"  (Library 
Bureau,  $2.25  per  1,000),  according  to  the  cataloguing 
rules  given  in  Dewey's  "Simplified  Library  School  Rules." 
(Library  Bureau,  $1.25.) 

Here  it  will  suffice  to  say  that  in  a  dictionary  catalogue, 
authors,  titles  and  subjects  are  placed  in  one  alphabetical 
series,  and  it  will  be  readily  seen  how  great  a  convenience 
this  might  be  to  a  reader  who,  remembering  the  author,  but 
not  the  name  nor  subject  of  some  desired  book,  or  know- 
ing the  subject  but  neither  title  nor  author,  or  the  title  and 
neither  subject  nor  author — could,  on  consulting  the  cata- 
logue exactly  as  he  would  a  dictionary — in  the  light  of  the 
one  piece  of  information  he  did  possess, — immediately 
supply  the  missing  links,  and  learn  where  in  the  Library 
his  book  might  be. 

Full  explanation  of  a  dictionary  catalogue  by  its  invent- 
or, the  late  Charles  A.  Cutter,  can  be  procured  on  applica- 
tion to  the  U.  S.  Bureau  of  Education,  for  Cutter's  Rules 
for  a  Dictionary  Catalogue,  1891,  p.  99-103.  These  rules 


50 

have  been  adopted  by  the  American  Library  Association. 

Note.  The  Library  of  Congress  is  now  prepared  to 
furnish  copies  of  any  of  the  catalogue  cards  which  it  is 
now  currently  printing  or  which  it  has  heretofore  printed 
so  far  as  copies  for  these  can  be  supplied  from  stock. 

This  will  include  : 

(a)  Books  currently  copyrighted  under  the  laws  of  the 
United  States. 

(b)  Miscellaneous  material  so  far  as  acquired  by  it. 

(c)  All  other  books  in  its  present  collection  as  these  are 
reached  in  the  process  of  reclassifi cation. 

These  cards  are  author  cards  only,  but  in  the   following 
groups   at  least,    subject  headings  will  be  suggested,  and 
on  all  they  may  be  prefixed  with  pen  or  typewriter  to  the 
author  cards  to  form  subject  cards. 
it     Copyrighted  books. 

2.  Bibliography  and  library  science. 

3.  American  history. 

4.  Each  new  group  as  reclassified. 

COST.  The  charge  will  be  based  upon  the  cost  of  the 
extra  copies  plus  10  per  cent.  It  will  not  exceed  2  cents 
for  a  single  copy  of  a  single  card,  and  ^  cent  more  for 
each  additional  copy,  and  less  if  the  order  is  received  be- 
fore the  cards  are  printed. 

ORDERING.  In  ordering  these  cards  write  as  follows  on 
a  33  size  (5^x7^  centimetres)  slip  of  paper  : 

Author's  surname,  First  name  (in  full). 
Brief  title.  Edition. 

Publisher,  Copyright  date. 

Add  the  Library's  name  and  the  number  of  cards  wanted 
on  each  slip,  and  mail  them  in  an  envelope  with  a  franked 
label  which  will  be  provided  on  request  by  the  Library  of 
Congress. 

For  orders  of  a  certain  size  there  is  a  considerable  dis- 
count allowed,  and  on  this  point  all  Delaware  Librarians 


are  advised  to  write  to  George  F.  Bowerman,  Librarian  of 
the  Wilmington  Institute  Free  Library,  and  member  of  the 
State  Library  Commission  of  Delaware.  Mr.  Bowerman 
has  kindly  offered  to  help  any  of  our  Libraries  to  take  ad- 
vantage of  this  discount  and  to  give  them  any  further  in- 
formation on  the  subject  that  they  may  require. 

Shelf  List.  The  commission  recommends  that  all  Li- 
braries should  keep  a  shelf  list  on  cards  (32  1.  size  being 
much  the  best  for  this  purpose,  Library  Bureau,  $1.60  per 
1,000.)  It  is  a  catalogue  of  all  the  books  in  a  Library 
arranged  in  the  order  in  which  they  stand  on  the  shelves — 
a  subject  index  of  the  Library, — and  is  indispensable  to 
the  proper  administration  of  one,  for  the  work  of  stock 
taking,  and  of  correctly  class-numbering  and  author-num- 
bering new  books.  Very  clear  and  simple  rules  for  mak- 
ing a  shelf  list  will  be  found  in  Dewey's  "Simplified  Li- 
brary School  Rules,"  p.  65. 

Registration  of  Readers.  In  small  places  where  the 
Librarian  can  generally  know  of  her  own  knowledge 
the  character  and  standing  of  the  persons  who  will  apply 
for  books  it  will  be  undesirable  and  unnecessary  for  a  small 
Library  to  burden  itself  with  a  guaranty  system  which 
would  but  involve  double  work  in  the  cases  where  fines 
must  be  collected  for  the  loss  or  undue  detention  of  books. 

A  numerical  Register  of  Borrowers  might  well  be  kept 
in  a  book,  each  page  of  which  is  headed  by  a  printed 
agreement  to  pay  all  fines  due  by  the  Borrower  and  to  obey 
the  rules  of  the  Library.  Each  applicant  signing  his  name 
below  this  agreement  will  thus  have  given  his  pledge. 

The  lines  of  this  book  should  be  numbered  consecutive- 
ly, each  number  representing  a  Borrower,  and  his  signa- 
ture and  address  should  follow  on  the  same  line. 

The  date  should  be  written  each  morning  before  any 
new  names  are  added. 

Each  person's  number  and  the  date  of  the  expiration  of 


52 

his  privileges  should  be  written  on  his  card.  It  is  usual  to 
require  Borrowers  to  renew  their  library  agreements  every 
one  or  two  years.  If,  for  any  reason,  a  Borrower  should 
be  deprived  of  his  privileges,  the  fact  should  be  entered  in 
the  registration  book  after  his  name.  If  red  ink  is  used  for 
this  purpose,  it  will  assist  the  eye  in  noting  the  record.  In 
order  to  form  an  idea  of  how  many  people  are  using  the 
Library  at  any  given  time  an  account  of  the  expiration 
and  renewals  of  library  privileges  should  be  kept. 

FINES.  The  assessment  and  collection  of  fines  is  one 
of  the  most  disagreeable  and  difficult  of  a  Librarian's  du- 
ties, but  in  order  to  make  it  as  little  unpleasant  as  possible, 
it  should  be  done  promptly  and  firmly  without  respect  of 
persons.  Lost  books  should  be  paid  for  at  their  original 
cost  in  order  to  compensate  the  Library  not  merely  for 
their  loss  but  for  the  additional  work  of  replacing  them. 

Charging  System.  The  Commission  recommends  the 
following  charging  system  as  being  rapid  and  accurate  and 
requiring  but  little  of  the  public : 

(a)  BORROWER'S  CARD.  On  a  card  (33a  charging 
card,  Library  Bureau,  $2  per  1,000),  known  as  the  Read- 
er's or  Borrower's  card  is  written  in  the  upper  left  hand 
corner  the  Borrower's  number  (see  Registration  Book), 
and  in  the  upper  right  hand  corner  the  date  of  the  expira- 
tion of  his  Library  privileges.  On  the  line  below,  his  sur- 
name followed  by  his  given  names.  On  the  line  below 
that,  his  address.  These  cards  should  be  filed  alphabeti- 
cally by  the  Borrower's  name  in  a  "tray"  kept  for  that 
purpose  (see  Library  Bureau  catalogue. )  When  he  desires 
to  borrow  a  book,  this  card  should  be  found  and  the  date 
of  issue  written  in  the  first  vacant  space  below  his  name 
and  address.  In  the  vacant  space  next  to  the  right  should 

be  written  the  call  number  (as  _ ® — consisting  of  both 

D65 

class  and  book  number),  of  the  book  he  takes,  and  the 
card  filed  again  until  the  book  is  returned,  when  the  card 


53 

should  be  found  and  the  date  of  return  entered  in  the  va- 
cant space  next  to  the  right  of  the  call  number.  No 
spaces  or  lines  should  be  skipped  or  omitted,  and  when  the 
face  of  the  card  is  full,  the  back  should  be  used  in  the 
same  manner.  When  necessary  to  make  a  new  card  for  a 
borrower,  it  should  be  marked  "card  2,"  and  so  on,  and 
the  old  cards  filed  for  statistics. 

(b)  BOOK  CARD.  Each  book  in  the  Library  should 
have  a  card  similar  to  the  Borrower's  card,  but  of  a  differ- 
ent color  in  order  to  avoid  confusion  (these  can  be  bought 
in  ten  colors  of  the  Library  Bureau.  The  Commission  uses 
a  white  borrower's  card  and  a  blue  book  card  in  its  Travel- 
ing Libraries). 

On  the  book  card  the  class  number  should  be  written 
on  the  left  side  of  the  top  line,  and  the  book  number  on 
the  right.  On  the  line  should  be  written  the  author's  sur- 
name, and  on  a  third  line  a  brief  title  of  the  book. 

In  the  back  of  each  book,  inside  the  cover,  should  be  a 
pocket  consisting  of  a  plain  square  of  white  paper  pasted 
at  the  sides  and  lower  edge,  and  large  enough  to  admit  of 
the  book  card's  being  slipped  in  and  out  readily.  In  this 
pocket  the  book  card  is  kept  while  on  the  shelves.  Book 
pockets  can  be  obtained  in  many  forms  and  at  various 
prices,  but  the  Commission  find  the  plain  white  squares 
(4x4  ins.)  used  in  their  Traveling  Libraries  entirely  satis- 
factory, and  they  cost  about  5oc  a  thousand  from  any 
stationer  or  printer. 

When  a  book  is  borrowed  the  book  card  should  be  with- 
drawn from  its  pocket  and  the  date  of  issue  should  be  en- 
tered both  on  the  pocket,  and  in  the  first  vacant  space  be- 
low the  title  on  the  card.  The  reader's  number  (always 
to  be  found  on  his  card)  should  be  written  on  the  card  in 
the  next  space  to  the  right,  and  then  filed  in  a  box  similar 
to  that  in  which  the  borrower's  cards  are  kept. 

At   the    end   of    the   day    the  book  cards    should    be 


54 

arranged  in  the  order  of  their  class  numbers  first, 
and  then  alphabetically  by  the  book  numbers.  Thus 
(Class  No  )  9  and  then  th 


065  (Book  No.)  Eio 

should  be  filed  away  by  date,  each  day's  cards  being 
separated  by  guide  cards  or  by  thin  pieces  of  wood  bear- 
ing the  number  of  the  day  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner. 
These  pieces  of  wood  should  be  taller  than  the  cards  when 
standing  upright  in  their  tray.  One  division  of  the  card 
box  or  tray,  as  librarians  term  them,  should  be  used  for  the 
cards  of  books  which  are  out  over  time,  and  if  the  Librarian 
chooses,  this  division  might  be  subdivided  for  book  over- 
due one  week  or  less,  the  next  for  books  overdue  between 
one  or  two  weeks,  etc. 

When  the  Borrower  brings  his  book  back,  the  book  card 
is  found  by  means  of  the  date  on  the  book  pocket,  and  as 
soon  as  the  date  of  return  has  been  entered  on  the  Bor- 
rower's card  as  before  described,  the  book  card  is  put  in 
its  pocket  and  the  book  on  the  shelf. 

It  is  best  to  do  this  at  once  if  possible,  but  it  may  hap- 
pen that  several  people  will  be  waiting  to  borrow  or  re- 
turn books,  in  which  case,  the  Librarian  may  lay  the  re- 
turned book  aside  until  she  has  leisure  to  attend  to  it. 
Should  the  Borrower  desire  to  take  another  books,  how- 
ever, his  card  must  be  found  immediately,  and  the  date  of 
return  of  his  book  entered  on  it  before  he  can  take  another. 

This,  doubtless,  appears  very  complicated  as  read,  but 
it  is  a  system  in  use  in  many  progressive  libraries  and  in 
practice  will  be  found  very  simple  and  rapid  as  soon  as 
the  librarian  is  accustomed  to  it. 

In  order  to  understand  it  more  quickly  it  might  be  well 
either  to  apply  to  the  State  Library  Commission  for  sample 
Borrower's  and  Book  cards  filled  out,  or  to  borrow  one  of 
its  Traveling  Libraries  in  which  the  books  are  charged  in 
this  manner. 


55 

From  the  book  card  the  Borrower's  number  is  found 
and  if  necessary  to  look  up  his  name  the  Registration  book 
will  give  it.  In  a  small  library  the  Librarian  will  seldom 
find  this  necessary  as  she  soon  becomes  familiar  with  the 
names  and  faces  of  the  readers. 

This  charging  system    answers  many  questions  quickly 

and  accurately.     Is    ^20   on  the  shelves  ? — No. — Who  has 
065 

it? — (Look  through  the  charging  tray  for  Book  card). 
150  has  it. — Who  is  150?  (Look  in  the  Registration 
book  for  No.) — How  long  has  150  had  it  ?  Since  Febru- 
ary 14. 

Has  Mary  Smith  a  book?  (Look  in  tray  arranged  by 
Borrower's  surnames).  Yes. — What  book?  920-065. — 
How  long  has  she  had  it  ?  Since  February  14. 

Two  BOOK  SYSTEM.  The  Commission  recommends 
permitting  readers  to  borrow  two  books  at  a  time  if  they 
wish,  of  which  but  one  shall  be  a  novel.  This  system  has 
proved  very  successful  in  inducing  library  patrons  to  read 
a  much  larger  proportion  of  books  of  history,  biography, 
travel,  science  and  literature. 


Education  begins  the  gentleman,  but  reading,   good  company,    and 
reflection  must  finish  him. — LOCKE. 


SUGGESTED  RULES  FOR  SMALL 
LIBRARIES. 

Rules  should  be  as  simple  and  as  few  as  possible  and 
should  be  designed  not  to  restrict  liberty  but  to  restrain 
license,  and  to  make  the  use  of  the  Library  equally  easy 
and  pleasant  for  every  one. 

i.  (a)  READERS.  Upon  signing  the  agreement  any 

resident  of may  borrow  books  from  the Free 

Public  Library  so  long  as  he  complies  with  the  rules. 

(b)   Persons  not  residing  in may  be  entitled   to 


56 

the  privileges  of  the  Library  upon  the  payment  of per 

year,  and  after  signing  the  agreement  to  comply  with  the 
rules,  at  the  discretion  of  the  Librarian. 

AGREEMENT. 

(c)        Being  a  resident  of I  hereby  agree    as 

a   borrower    from    the    Free    Public    Library    of 

to  pay  promptly  any  fines  due  from  me  for  over-detention 
of  books,  or  for  injuries  of  any  kind  beyond  reasonable 
wear  to  any  book  while  it  is  charged  to  me. 

2.  BOOKS.     Two  books  not  fiction,  or  one  of  fiction 
and  one  not   fiction,  may  be   borrowed  at  a   time.      Two 
volumes  of  the  same  work  are  considered  as  one  book. 

3.  FINES.     A  fine  of  one  cent  a  day  including  Sunday 
and  legal  holidays  shall  be  paid  for  each  book  kept  over- 
time.    No  book  shall  be  lent  to  any  one  to  whom  a  book 
or  an  unpaid  fine  is  charged. 

4.  RESERVES.    A  reader  wishing  a  book  already  loaned  to 
another  person,  may  have  it  reserved  for    him    for    forty- 
eight  hours  after  its  return,  on  request  to  the  Librarian. 

5.  RENEWAL.   A  reader  returning  a  book  which  has  not 
been  reserved,  may  renew  it  for  two  weeks. 

6.  INJURIES.     Notes,   corrections  of  the  press,  marks  of 
any  kind,  or  turning  down  of  the  leaves,  are  expressly  for- 
bidden, and  all  losses  or  injuries  beyond   reasonable  wear, 
however  caused,  must  be  promptly  adjusted    to    the    satis- 
faction of  the  Librarian  by  the  person  to  whom  the  book  is 
charged. 


Every  great  book   is  an   action,  and  every  great  action  is  a  book. 

MARTIN  LUTHER. 


57 

LIBRARIAN'S  MONTHLY  REPORT. 

In  every  well -managed  Library,  a  monthly  report  should 
be  prepared  for  the  School  Library  Commission  in  order 
that  it  may  be  kept  informed  as  to  the  activities  of  the 
Library.  These  reports  should  always  contain  the  same 
items  each  month  in  order  to  insure  accuracy  in  the 
Library  statistics.  The  following  form  -  suggested  by  the 
Iowa  Library  Commission  presents  the  necessary  details  in 
very  compact  and  intelligible  manner  : 

FREE  PUBLIC  LIBRARY,  DELAWARE. 

LIBRARIAN'S  REPORT  FOR  MONTH  OF ,   190 

ADDITIONS. 

Books  purchased.  — 

Books  given. 


Magazines  bound. 
Books  rebound. — 


Books  wornout  or  withdrawn.— 


Books  repaired  (in  the  Library).— 

New  readers  registered. 

CIRCULATION. 

Number  of  books  issued. 


Number  of  days  open  for  issue  of  books. 

Average  daily  circulation. 

Largest  daily  circulation. 

Smallest  daily  circulation. 

Percentage  of  fiction  circulated. 


Number   of  visitors    to    reading    room   and    reference 
room. 

RECEIPTS. 


Fines  on  overdue  books  — 
Damaged  or  lost  books.  - 
Cards  to  non-residents. 


CLASSIFED  REPORT. 


Additions. 

Circulation. 

Per  Cent,  of 
Circulation. 

General  Reference    Books 
and  Periodicals  .... 
Philosophy      

Religion      

Sociology 

Philology 

Natural  science    
Useful  arts  .        .    . 

Fine  arts 

Literature    

History    .... 

Travel      ... 

Biography   

Adult  fiction    . 

Juvenile  fiction  
Foreign  books     
Current  periodicals     .    .    . 

Total 

-LIBRARIAN. 


O  for  a  Booke  and  a  shadie  Nooke,  eyther  in-a-dore  or  out ; 

With  the  grene  leaves  whesp'ring  overhede, 

Or  the  streete  cryes  all  about. 
Where  I  male  Reade  all  at  my  ease,  both  of  the  Newe  and  Olde; 

For  a  jollie  goode  Booke  whereon  to  looke 

Is  better  to  me  than  Golde. 


59 

ROOMS,  BUILDINGS  AND    FIXTURES. 

As  a  rule  it  will  be  found  wiser  to  adopt  temporary 
quarters  while  the  Library  Commission  and  Librarian  gain 
experience,  and  the  Library's  needs  define  themselves. 
Should  the  Library  be  so  fortunate  as  to  possess  a  building 
fund  it  will  do  no  harm  to  let  it  accumulate  and  too  great 
haste  in  this  matter  is  likely  to  do  a  great  deal  of  harm. 

If,  however,  the  question  of  building  arises  it  will  be 
found  in  every  case  more  satisfactory  and  economical  to 
employ  a  really  competent  architect.  The  best  of  these 
charge  but  very  little  more  than  the  worst — about  5  %  of 
the  cost  of  building — and  the  price  of  this  commission  will 
be  more  than  saved  to  the  Library  in  various  ways  by  their 
employment. 

Much  valuable  information  on  Library  architecture  is  to 
be  found  in  the  volumes  of  "Public  Libraries,"  with 
bibliographies  of  the  subject,  and  no  plans  should  be  made 
before  it  has  been  carefully  studied  by  both  the  Library 
Commission  and  the  Librarian. 

Especially  helpful  and  suggestive  on  this  subject  is 
Soule's  "Library  Rooms  and  Buildings,"  one  of  the  li- 
brary tracts  issued  by  the  Publishing  Board  of  the  Ameri- 
can Library  Association  (10^  Beacon  St.,  Boston,  Mass.) 
for  five  cents. 

While  no  specific  plan  can  be  recommended  that  would 
suit  every  Library,  there  are  a  few  general  rules  which  are 
endorsed  by  the  Library  profession  as  a  whole  which  have 
been  summarized  as  follows  : 

"A  Library  building  should  be  planned  for  Library  work. 

Every  Library  building  should  be  planned  especially  for 
the  kind  of  work  to  be  done,  and  the  community  to  be 
served. 

The  interior  arrangement  ought  to  be  planned  before  the 
exterior  is  considered. 

No  convenience  of  arrangement  should  be  sacrificed  for 
mere  architectural  effect. 


6o 

The  plan  should  be  adapted  to  probabilities  and  possi- 
bilities of  growth  and  development. 

Simplicity  of  decoration  is  essential  in  the  work  rooms 
and  reading  rooms. 

The  building  should  be  planned  with  a  view  to  economi- 
cal administration. 

The  rooms  for  public  use  should  be  so  arranged  as  to 
allow  complete  supervision  with  the  fewest  possible  at- 
tendants. 

There  should  be  throughout  as  much  natural  light  as 
possible. 

Windows  should  extend  up  to  the  ceiling  to  light 
thoroughly  the  upper  part  of  the  room. 

Windows  in  a  book  room  should  be  placed  opposite  the 
intervals  between  book-cases. 

In  a  circulating  library  the  books  most  in  use  should  be 
shelved  in  floor  cases  close  to  the  delivery  desk. 

A  space  of  at  least  five  feet  should  be  left  between  floor 
cases.  (If  the  public  is  excluded,  3  feet  is  ample). 

No  shelf,  in  any  form  of  book-case,  should  be  higher 
than  a  person  of  moderate  height  can  reach  without  a 
step-ladder. 

Shelving  for  folios  and  quartos  should  be  provided  in 
every  book  room. 

Straight  flights  are  preferable  to  circular  stairs. 

The  form  of  shelving  which  is  growing  in  favor  is  the 
arrangement  of  floor  cases  in  large  rooms  with  space  be- 
tween the  tops  of  the  book-cases  and  ceiling  for  circulation 
of  air  and  the  diffusion  of  light. 

Modern  library  plans  provide  accommodations  for 
readers  near  the  books  they  want  to  use,  whatever  system 
of  shelving  i§  adopted." 

Avoid  having  more  partitions  than  you  can  dispense 
with — they  take  away  from  the  sense  of  openness  and  space 
a  library  room  should  have. 


f  UNIVERSITY   j 


61 


The  simpler  and  less  ornate  the  furniture,  fittings  and 
decoration  of  a  library  room,  the  better. 

Single  shelves  should  not  be  more  than  3  ft.xy*^  ins. 
and  10  inches  should  be  allowed  between  shelves.  Shelves 
should  be  movable  and  easily  adjustable.  If  in  the  form 
of  a  book  case  it  will  be  best  not  to  have  them  more  than 
7  ft.  high." 

For  cases,  furniture,  catalogue  cases,  cards,  trays  and 
all  manner  of  labor  saving  devices  consult  the  catalogue  of 
the  Library  Bureau. 


Many  times  the  reading  of  a  book  has  made  the  fortune  of  man, — 
has  decided  his  way  of  life.  It  makes  friends.  '  Tis  the  tie  between 
men  to  have  been  delighted  with  the  same  book.  Every  one  of  us  is 
always  in  search  of  his  friend  ;  and  when,  unexpectedly,  he  finds  a 
stranger  enjoying  the  rare  poet  or  thinker  who  is  dear  to  his  own 
solitude,  it  is  like  finding  a  brother.  — EMERSON. 


FITTINGS  AND  SUPPLIES. 

It  is  the  truest  economy  in  the  long  rung  to  provide  the 
best  labor  saving  equipment,  even  at  a  greater  first  cost. 
These  Libraries  must  grow,  and  the  management  will  soon 
come  to  recognize  that  they  have  made  a  mistake  if  they 
have  not  made  a  sacrifice  to  obtain  the  adequate  '  'tools  of 
the  trade' '  at  first.  It  should  be  borne  in  mind  that  these 
first  expenses  are  similar  to  the  equipment  of  a  school 
room  with  its  desks,  seats,  blackboards,  etc.  They  are  ex- 
penses to  be  incurred  but  once  and  they  are  essential  to 
the  work  to  be  performed.  All  those  supplies  and  station- 
ery peculiar  to  the  proper  administration  of  a  Library  had 
best  be  bought  of  the  Library  Bureau,  if  disappointment 
and  ultimately  greater  expense  are  to  be  avoided.  There 
is  a  branch  office  at  112  North  Broad  St.,  Phila. ,  and  its 
invaluable  catalogue  can  be  obtained  for  the  asking  and 
should  be  carefully  examined  by  all  Librarians  and  Boards 
of  Library  management.  For  ordinary  stationery  and 


62 


office  supplies  the  W.  H.  Hoskins  Co.,  906  Chestnut  St., 
Phila.,  will  probably  give  satisfaction.  Their  catalogue 
also  will  be  helpful  to  the  Librarian. 


The  improvement  of  a  Httle  time  may  be  a  gain  to  all  eternity. 

BENJAMIN  WHICHCOTE. 


LIBRARY  SCHOOLS. 

All  these  Library  Schools  are  sending  out  graduates  who 
are  trained  and  enthusiastic,  with  from  one  to  two  years 
training  and  experience  and  to  these  schools  the  District 
Library  Commissions  of  Delaware  are  referred  for  advice 
as  to  the  employment  of  librarians  or  organizers.  Infor- 
mation as  to  their  courses  of  instruction  may  be  obtained 
on  application  to  the  directors. 

New  York  State  Library  School,  Albany  :  Melvil  Dewey, 
Di  rector. 

Pratt  Institute  Library  School,  Brooklyn  :  Miss  Mary 
W.  Plummer,  Director. 

Drexel  Institute  Library  School,  Philadelphia :  Miss 
Alice  B.  Kroeger,  Director. 

University  of  Illinois  Library  School,  Champaign,  Ills.  : 
Miss  Katharine  L.  Sharp,  Director. 

Simmons  College  Library  Training  Course,  Boston  : 
Miss  Mary  E.  Robbins,  Instructor. 

Western  Reserve  University  Library  School,  Cleveland, 
O.  :  William  H.  Brett,  Dean. 

The  Carnegie  Library  Training  School  for  Children's 
Librarians,  Pittsburg,  Pa.  :  Miss  Frances  J.  Olcott, 
Director. 

SUMMER  LIBRARY  SCHOOLS. 

The  courses  in  these  are  intended  to  assist  the  Librarians 
of  the  very  small  public  and  school  Libraries,  and  to  in- 
crease the  usefulness  of  the  assistants  in  larger  Libraries. 


63 

•  They  are  especially  valuable  in  affording  opportunities 
to  get  into  touch  with  co-workers  in  the  same  field,  and  in 
arousing  in  their  pupils  the  *  'modern  library  spirit." 
Moreover,  the  opportunity  for  comparison  of  methods  and 
exchange  of  ideas  and  experience  has  proved  of  inestimable 
value  to  the  pupils  of  these  schools,  and  to  the  institutions 
which  employ  them. 

New  York  State  Summer  Library  School,  Albany :  Mel- 
vil  Dewey,  Director. 

Chautauqua  Summer  School  of  Library  Science,  Chau- 
tauqua,  N.  Y.  :  Melvil  Dewey,  Director. 

Amherst  Summer  School  of  Library  Science,  Amherst, 
Mass.  :  VV.  I.  Fletcher,  Director. 

Indiana  Summer  Library  School,  Winona  Lake,  Ind.  : 
Miss  Merica  Hoagland,  Library  Commission,  Indian- 
apolis. 

Iowa  State  University,  Iowa  City  :  Miss  Alice  S.  Tyler, 
Director. 

Wisconsin  Free  Library  Commission,  Madison :  Miss 
Cornelia  Marvin,  Director. 


Apply  thine  heart  unto  instruction,  and    thine    ears  to   the  words   of 
knowledge. — PROVERBS,  13:13. 


Knowledge  of  books  in  a  man  of  business  is  a  torch  in  the  hands  of 
one  who  is  willing  and  able  to  show  those  who  are  bewildered,  the 
way  which  leads  to  prosperity  and  welfare. — ADDISON. 


AMERICAN  LIBRARY    ASSOCIATION. 

The  American  Library  Association  is  the  national  or- 
ganization of  people  interested  in  Libraries,  and  has  now 
a  membership  of  over  a  thousand.  It  was  established  in 
1876  for  the  purpose  of  advancing  general  library  interests 
in  every  practicable  way,  and  its  avowed  objects  are  : 

i.    By    organization    and    force    of    numbers    to     effect 


64 

needed  reforms  and  improvements  most   of  which    could 
not  be  brought  about  by  individual  effort. 

2.  By  co-operation  to  lessen  the  labor  and  expense   of 
Library  administration. 

3.  By  discussion  and  comparison  to  utilize  the  combined 
experiment  and  experience  of  the  profession  in  perfecting 
plans  and  methods  and  in  solving  difficulties. 

4.  By  meetings   and    correspondence    to    promote   ac- 
quaintance and  esprit  de  corps. 

The  fee  is  $2  a  year  and  all  interested  persons  and  in- 
stitutions are  eligible  to  membership. 

The  Association  meets  as  a  body  once  a  year  and  the 
proceedings  of  these  meetings  are  printed  in  full  and  dis- 
tributed to  all  members.  It  publishes  a  Handbook  which 
gives  full  information  of  its  work  and  terms  of  membership, 
and  which  may  be  had  upon  application  to  the  Secretary, 
J.  I.  Wyer,  Jr.,  University  of  Nebraska,  Lincoln,  Neb. 

Every  person  actively  engaged  in  Library  work  owes  it 
to  themselves  as  well  as  to  their  profession  to  become  a 
member  of  the  A.  L.  A.  One  cannot  join  it,  work  with  it 
and  for  it  and  not  increase  one's  efficiency  in  many  ways. 

Nearly  all  of  the  other  States  have  smaller  Library  as- 
sociations, and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  Delaware  will  not 
defer  adding  hers  to  the  list,  as  they  are  very  active 
agencies  for  fostering  Library  interests  in  various  ways. 


Other  things  being  equal,  the  man  who  has  the  greatest  amount  of  in- 
tellectual resources  is  in  the  least  danger  from  inferior  temptations — if 
for  no  other  reason,  because  he  has  fewer  idle  moments.  The  ruin  of 
most  men  dates  from  some  idle  hour. — HILLARD. 


65 

TRAVELING  LIBRARIES. 

The  State  Federation  of  Women's  Clubs  gave  the  State 
Library  Commission  seven  Traveling  Libraries  consisting 
of  50  volumes  each  of  wholesome  and  interesting  books 
which  it  loans  to  any  school  or  community  under  condi- 
tions hereinafter  described.  Since  that  time  the  Commis- 
sion has  received  from  the  Wilmington  New-Century  Club, 
13  similar  Libraries;  from  the  Dover  Century  Club,  7  Li- 
braries ;  from  Miss  Florence  Bayard  Kane,  3  Libraries, 
and  from  George  F.  Bowerman,  i  Library.  To  ijtie  date 
of  the  publication  of  this  Handbook  the  Commission  owns 
45  such  Libraries  and  is  constantly  adding  to  the  number 
by  purchase. 

The  Commission  has  urgent  need  for  many  more  Travel- 
ing Libraries,  and  contributions  either  of  books  or  of 
money  for  the  purpose  of  equipping  them  will  be  thank- 
fully accepted.  At  the  same  time  it  should  be  said  that 
the  books  for  such  Libraries  can  only  be  of  very  great 
value  if  they  are  carefully  selected  and  bought  with  refer- 
ence to  their  especial  purpose. 

As  Mr.  Hutchins  of  Wisconsin  has  said,  "We  have 
passed  the  day  of  experiment.  Hap-hazard  Traveling  Li- 
braries— those  for  which  the  books  are  gathered  at  hap- 
hazard, administered  at  hap-hazard,  and  supervised  in  the 
same  way — served  a  good  purpose  at  one  time.  In  the 
future,  Traveling  Libraries  .  .  .  should  be  purchased 
in  series  by  careful  students  of  the  communities  which  they 
are  to  visit,  and  should  be  administered  and  supervised  by 
people  who  make  the  work  a  business — whether  such  busi- 
ness be  voluntary  or  paid.  This  means  that  in  the  future 
considerable  amounts  of  money  should  be  raised  for  the 
administration  of  Traveling  Libraries  as  well  as  for  their 
purchase. ' ' 

Elsewhere  he  says  no  less  truly,  "Books  of  ephemeral 
value,  books  made  of  basswood  paper  and  logwood  ink, 
should  be  excluded  because  the  child  will  not  cherish 


ff  UNIVERSITY 

V  OF 

^£•4;  ifr\B»A\k^p 


66 


them,"  and  it  is  a  fact  known  to  experience  that  no  one 
else  will  either. 

In  speaking  of  Library  work  it  may  be  safely  assumed 
that  every  one  will  consider  the  work  done  for  children  in 
their  regard  as  the  most  important,  however  forcibly  the 
needs  of  older  people  present  themselves,  and  it  seems  to 
be  conceded  by  every  one  at  all  attentive  to  the  subject 
that  the  largest  amount  of  reading  is  done  by  children  be- 
tween the  ages  of  twelve  and  fourteen. 

Therefore,  it  will  readily  be  admitted  that  that  im- 
portance of  providing  books  suitable  for  children  of  such 
an  age  can  scarcely  be  over-estimated,  and  that  to  begin 
at  twelve  to  make  the  selection  is  to  begin  too  late,  and 
we  should  begin  before  they  learn  to  read  by  reading  to 
them. 

It  may  also  be  assumed  that  the  home  where  cultivated 
parents  train  their  children  to  enjoy  reading  the  best  books, 
is  the  best  of  all  libraries — that  books  read  for  pleasure, 
read  over  and  over  again  at  home,  do  far  more  to  shape 
ideals,  determine  character,  and  form  the  visions  which 
"flash  upon  that  inward  eye  which  is  the  bliss  of  solitude" 
than  books  studied  at  school,  or  borrowed  with  no  other 
standard  of  choice  than  mere  momentary  diversion,  but 
the  fact  must  be  faced  that  the  majority  of  homes  are 
bookless. 

For  the  children  of  these  homes  and  for  many  other 
uses  we  must  have  the  Free  Public  Library,  but  through- 
out farming  communities  and  the  small  towns  in  which 
Delaware's  population  is  so  largely  to  be  found,  the  means 
of  providing  good  literature  is  lacking  unless  the  people 
unite  in  assisting  the  State  Library  Commission  by  their 
gifts  to  equip  and  circulate  properly  selected  and  sufficiently 
numerous  Traveling  Libraries. 

Such  gifts  shall  bear  the  names  of  the  donors  both  in  the 
books  and  on  the  cases,  and  the  people  who  have  furnished 
the  means  for  this  work  everywhere,  are  agreed  that  no 


67 

other  philanthropic  work  of  which  they  have  knowledge 
does  so  much  undoubted  good  in  proportion  to  its  cost. 

The  Libraries  afford  the  eminently  practical  and- 
economical  means  of  realizing  our  American  ideal  of  "the 
greatest  good  to  the  greatest  number, ' '  and  as  more  than 
twenty  of  our  other  States  are,  by  their  means,  success- 
fully coping  with  the  problem  of  making  good  literature 
accessible  to  all  classes  in  their  small  communities,  there 
would  seem  to  be  no  reason  why  the  people  of  Delaware 
should  be  less  fortunate. 

The  economy  of  this  method  of  possessing  a  Library 
should  appeal  strongly  to  the  minds  of  any  practical  people 
— for  taxes,  local  rent,  fuel,  light,  librarian's  salary  and 
the  costs  of  library  equipments  are  spared  their  publics. 
Moreover,  the  Commission  can  buy  books  at  a  lower  rate 
than  is  possible  to  individuals. 

The  great  advantages  of  the  system  in  other  respects 
should  as  surely  make  a  powerful  appeal  to  the  good  sense 
and  good  will  of  us  all — "if  it  be  the  duty  of  the  State  to 
give  to  each  citizen  an  opportunity  to  learn  to  read, 
surely  it  is  equally  its  duty  to  give  to  each  citizen  an  op- 
portunity to  use  his  power  wisely  for  himself  and  the  State, 
and  this  can  be  done  for  all  the  readers  of  a  community  at 
a  fraction  of  the  cost  necessary  to  teach  him  to  read,  and 
thereby  his  power  to  do  may  be  made  a  lifelong  education 
for  him  and  a  source  of  illimitable  pleasure." 


Dreams,  books  are  each  a  world  ;  and  books  we  know 
Are  a  substantial  world,  both  pure  and  good, 
Round  these  with  tendrils  strong  as  flesh  and  blood 
Our  pastime  and  our  happiness  will  grow. 

WORDSWORTH. 


These  Traveling  Libraries,  properly  equipped  and  ad- 
ministered, should  prove  a  most  powerful  lure  away  from 
less  worthy  occupations  and  amusements  and  would  put  the 


68 


control  of  the  reading  of  large  numbers  of  people  into  the 
hands  of  those  who  have  the  Library  experience  of  the 
.  world  at  their  command — and  that  too  while  the  literary 
tastes  of  their  readers  are  being  formed — or  created  ! 

The  interest  in  books  once  aroused  would  be  kept  alive 
by  the  frequent  exchange  of  one  Library  for  another — for 
most  naturally  the  near  prospect  of  a  change  would  keep 
each  reader  alert  to  learn  which  were  the  best  books  and  to 
get  them  promptly.  It  would  seem  as  though  each  Libra- 
ry station  must  become  a  centre  of  light — and  of  delight — 
to  its  neighborhood — and  should  do  much  to  build  up  a 
nobler  social  and  intellectual  life,  and  to  give  an  abundant 
supply  of  wholesome  reading  to  people  who,  very  possibly, 
would  otherwise  have  none. 

It  not  only  should  supply  such  literature  to  the  people, 
but  it  would,  in  many  cases,  confine  their  reading  to  it 
until  their  tastes  were  formed,  and  by  leaving  no  room,  nor 
time  for  bad  books,  would  prevent  their  circulation  by  the 
most  natural,  wholesome  method  imaginable. 

It  should  tend  "to  make  helpful,  inspiring  themes  the 
burden  of  the  common  thought — substituting  quite  simply 
and  naturally,  helpful  conversations  on  really  interesting 
impersonal  topics  for  petty  gossip,  scandal,  and  oral  and 
printed  wickedness."  ' 

One  cannot  limit  its  sphere  of  usefulness,  for  its  best  work 
will  be  done  in  those  places  where  there  is  no  similar  edu- 
cational force  at  work  for  any  but  children,  and  if  one  re- 
gards a  Library  as  Librarians  do,  as  the  "People's  Univer- 
sity." then  one  must  admit  that  its  curriculum  is  as  broad 
as  the  needs  of  human  nature. 

Its  teachings  cease  neither  by  day  nor  by  night,  neither 
on  work  days  nor  holidays.  Informing,  inspiring,  amus- 
ing— old  as  well  as  young,  learned  as  well  as  ignorant,  rich 
and  poor  equally  !  Helping  the  child  at  his  play,  the 
teacher  in  school,  the  mother  at  home — giving  of  its  stores 
of  knowledge  and  pleasure  to  the  farmer  at  his  plough,  to 


69 

the  invalid  in  the  sick  room,  to  the  traveler  on  his  journey 
— all  life  may  be  illuminated  by  the  radiance  of  this  lamp 
of  beauty,  of  knowledge,  and  of  truth,  that  waits  but  to  be 
lighted  by  the  common  sense  of  needs,  of  generosity,  and 
of  sympathy  on  the  part  of  our  fellow  citizens  which  shall 
lead  them  to  follow  the  patriotic  example  of  the  State 
Federation  of  Women's  Clubs  and  give  the  means  of  con- 
tinuing and  perfecting  the  work  unselfishly  and  generously 
begun  by  them  while  they  had  no  thought  of  personally 
profiting  by  the  free  dissemination  of  their  gifts. 


A  little  peaceful  home 

Bounds  all  my  wants  and  wishes  ;  add  to  this 
My  book  and  friend,  and  this  is  happiness. 

Di  RIOZA. 


RULES    FOR    LENDING    TRAVELING 
LIBRARIES. 

On  satisfactory  assurance  that  all  rules  of  the  State 
Library  Commission  will  be  complied  with,  Traveling 
Libraries  may  be  lent  to  the  following  classes  of  borrowers  : 

T.  BORROWERS.  A  State  Traveling  Library  will  be 
loaned  to  : 

(a)  Any  school,   college  or  seminary  upon  application 
of  its  principal. 

(b)  Any  village,  town  or    community,   Study  or   other 
Club,  Grange,  Post,  Lodge,  business  corporation  or  other 
similar  organizations,  which  will  form  a  library  association 
of  not  less  than  five   members,  and   will  agree  to    be    re- 
sponsible for  the  safe  keeping  and  return  of  the  Library, 
and  to  observe  the  rules  made  for  its  management. 

(c)  Any  Library   upon  application    of  its    trustees    or 
commissioners.      If   loaned    to   a   subscription   Library   it 
must  agree   to  loan  the  books  of  the  Traveling  Library  to 
any  one  in  the  community  free  of  charge. 


2.  APPLICATION.     Application  must   be  made   upon   a 
blank  furnished  by  the  Commission,  and  must  designate 
the  place  in  which  the  Library  will  be  kept,  and  the  name 
of  the  person  or  persons  chosen  to  serve  as  Librarian  and 
Secretary. 

3.  TIME.     The  Traveling  Library   shall    not   be   kept 
longer  than  three  months  at  a  time  except  by  special  per- 
mission.     It  may  be  exchanged  for  another  on    the  same 
terms,  and  these  exchanges  may  continue  so  long  as  rules 
are  properly  observed. 

4.  LIBRARIAN.     The  Librarian  shall  care  for  the  books 
while   under   his    control    and    shall  keep  such  records  of 
circulation,  etc.,  as  shall  be  required  by  the  Commission. 

5.  INJURIES.     Notes,  correction  of  the  press,  marks  of 
any  kind,  or  turning  down  of  leaves,   are  especially  for- 
bidden.    In  returning  the  case  of  books,  such  precaution 
shall  be  taken  as  shall  ensure  the  safe  return  of  the  books. 

6.  VIOLATION  OF  RULES.     For  wilful  violation  of  any 
rule,  or  unnecessary  carelessness  in  the  use  of  the  books, 
the  Commission  reserves  the  right  to  suspend  the  privilege 
of  borrowing  Libraries. 

7.  No  charge  may  be  made  for  the  use  of  the  books. 

The  Commission  hopes  to  be  able  to  purchase  new  and 
carefully  selected  Libraries  at  frequent  intervals.  They 
may  be  lent  as  a  whole,  selections  from  different  sets  being 
impracticable.  In  selecting  a  Library,  borrowers  would 
do  well  to  mention  several  in  order  of  preference,  in  case 
the  first  choice  should  not  be  available. 

The  Commission  will  sometimes  be  able  to  send  a  small 
number  of  magazines  with  the  Libraries  if  an  association 
desires  them.  These  magazines  may  be  freely  loaned 
where  they  will  give  most  pleasure  and  need  not  be  re- 
turned to  the  Commission. 


If  Milton  will  cross  my  threshold  to  sing  to  me  of  Paradise  ;  and 
Shakespeare  to  open  to  me  the  worlds  of  imagination  and  the  workings 
of  the  human  heart  ;  and  Franklin  to  enrich  me  with  his  practical  wis- 
dom— I  shall  not  pine  for  want  of  intellectual  companionship,  and  I 
may  become  a  cultivated  man,  though  excluded  from  what  is  called  the 
best  society  in  the  place  where  I  live. — CHANNING. 


TO  THE  LIBRARIANS 

of  the 
Traveling  Libraries. 

These  little  Libraries  are  sent  forth  with  an  earnest  de- 
sire to  give  pleasure  and  help  to  every  one  throughout  our 
State.  Their  ultimate  success  and  usefulness  must  depend 
largely  upon  your  efforts,  and  the  criticisms  of  your  bor- 
rowers and  your  own  reading  will  soon  enable  you  to  give 
very  valuable  assistance  to  them  and  the  Commission  as  to 
the  choice  of  books.  These  are  suited  to  various  tastes 
and  needs,  and  the  mere  fact  that  a  reader  has  not  found 
what  he  wanted  in  his  first  choice  is  not  a  reason  for  his 
refraining  from  making  a  second. 

Your  interest  will  grow  with  your  success  in  converting 
people  who  are  not  habitual  readers  into  becoming  such — 
but  you  must  not  let  yourself  be  discouraged  if  you  do  not 
always  succeed  immediately  and  with  each  individual. 

Try  to  train  your  readers  to  handle  books  carefully  and 
to  keep  them  clean.  Remind  the  children  that  clean 
hands  are  necessary  if  the  books  are  to  be  so,  and  if  each 
reader  will  unselfishly  consider  his  successor's  pleasure 
every  one  will  be  able  to  handle  clean  books.  It  is  much 
easier  to  teach  this  cleanliness  and  carefulness  while  books 
are  new  than  after  they  become  soiled,  but  even  with  the 
older  books  which  have  already  been  abused,  an  attentive 
Librarian  can  do  much  to  train  his  public.  It  might  be 
well  to  suggest  to  many  of  your  readers  that  they  should 
cover  the  books  they  borrow. 

The  permanent  success  of  the  Traveling    Libraries  will 


72 

depend  very  much  upon  proper  care  of  the  books,  and  the 
length  of  time  they  will  wear,  therefore  it  is  important 
that  every  one,  especially  children,  should  be  gently  cau- 
tioned to  treat  the  books  with  care.  Try,  however,  to 
use  tact  and  not  to  make  any  one  afraid  to  borrow  the 
books  freely. 

The  habit  of  reading  good  literature  is  far  more  impor- 
tant than  the  saving  of  the  books  or  the  money  involved, 
but  if  you  take  your  public  into  your  confidence  in  this 
matter,  most  persons  will  be  glad  to  aid  you,  and  will  readily 
appreciate  the  good  sense  and  necessity  of  giving  the  care 
you  require.  Especially  will  this  be  true  when  it  is  learned 
that  in  sending  out  Libraries,  preference  will  be  given  to 
those  communities  which  return  them  in  best  condition  in 
proportion  to  the  amount  of  use  which  has  been  made  of 
them. 

Please  arrange  the  books  straight  on  the  shelves  or  flat 
upon  their  sides  if  oversized  and  in  returning  the  Libraries, 
pack  the  books  so  securely  that  they  cannot  slide  or  shift 
in  their  places. 

If  the  leaves  of  the  books  become  loose,  do  not  reissue 
them  (unless  yon  can  neatly  fasten  the  leaves  into  position 
again),  but  keep  them  in  your  possession  till  the  Library 
is  returned. 

If  any  of  your  readers  persist  in  soiling  the  books  un- 
duly, refuse  to  loan  them  until  you  write  to  the  Commis- 
sion for  instructions. 

Where  the  cost  of  a  book  appears  in  the  catalogue,  you 
should  collect  its  cost  should  the  book  be  lost  or  damaged 
unduly,  otherwise  it  will  be  necessary  to  write  to  the  Com- 
mission for  instructions. 

You  will  confer  a  favor  by  making  any  suggestions  that 
will  lead  to  the  increased  usefulness  of  these  Libraries. 


'  'The  first  thing  one  ought  to  do,  after  having  borrowed  a  book,  is  to 
read  it,  so  as  to  be  able  to  return  it  as  soon  as  possible." — MENAGE. 


73 

RULES    FOR    CIRCULATING    TRAVELING 
LIBRARY  BOOKS. 

1.  PLACE  AND  TIME.     The  Library  shall  be  kept   at  a 
convenient  place  and  be  open  for  delivering  and  returning 
books  at  such  times  as  the  borrowing  association   shall  di- 
rect, providing  that  such  time  shall  not  be  less  than  three 
hours  on  two  days  of  each  week,  of  which  due  public  no- 
tice shall  be  given. 

2.  READERS.      After  signing  the  agreement  any  resident 
of  the  locality  may  draw  books  so  long  as  he  complies  with 
the  rules.      Persons  residing  outside    the  locality  to  which 
the  Library  is  lent  shall  be  entitled  to  the  same   privileges 
when  their  agreement  is  endorsed  by  the  Librarian. 

AGREEMENT. 

Being  a  resident  of I  hereby  agree  as  a  bor- 
rower from  the  State  Library  Commission  of  Delaware,  to 
pay  promptly  any  fines  due  from  me  for  over-detention  of 
books,  or  for  injuries  of  any  kind  beyond  reasonable  wear 
to  any  book  while  it  is  charged  to  me. 

Persons  residing  outside  the  locality  to  which  the  Libra- 
ry is  lent,  shall  be  entitled  to  the  same  privileges  when 
their  agreement  is  signed  by  the  Librarian. 

3.  BOOKS.     One  volume  may  be  drawn  by  each  reader 
and  kept  for  two  weeks. 

4.  FINES.     A  fine  of  one  cent  a  day  including  Sunday 
and  legal  holidays  shall  be  paid  for  each    book  kept    over 
time,  and  any  money  thus  received  shall  be  used  under  di- 
rection of  the  borrowing  association  for  Library  expenses. 
No  book  shall  be  lent  to  any  one  to' whom  a   book  or  an  un- 
paid fine  is  charged. 

5.  RESERVES.     A  reader  wishing  a  book  not  at  the  time 
on  the  shelves  may  have  it  reserved  for  him  for  forty -eight 
hours  after  its  return,  by  giving  notice  to  the  Librarian. 

6.  RENEWAL.     A  reader  returning  a  book  which  is  not 
reserved  may  renew  it  for  two  weeks. 


74 

7-  INJURIES.  Notes,  corrections  of  the  press,  marks  of 
any  kind,  or  turning  down  of  leaves,  is  expressly  forbidden, 
and  all  losses  or  injuries  beyond  reasonable  wear,  however 
caused,  must  be  promptly  adjusted  to  the  satisfaction  of 
the  Librarian  by  the  person  to  whom  the  book  is  charged. 


In  a  book-plate  of  the  last  century,  the  owner  of  the  book  has  the 
following  pertinent  quotati6n  from  the  Psalms  :— "It  is  the  wicked  that 
borroweth,  and  payeth  not  again." 


DIRECTIONS   TO    LIBRARIANS    OF 
TRAVELING  LIBRARIES. 

SHELF  ARRANGEMENT.  Arrange  the  books  in  the  case 
in  the  order  of  the  numbered  labels  on  their  backs,  except 
that  when  the  book  is  over-sized  it  may  be  arranged  out 
of  sequence,  if  necessary. 

BORROWERS  CARDS.  Have  the  Borrowers' cards  properly 
signed  and  if  necessary  endorsed.  Write  in  ink  all  other 
items  indicated  on  the  face  of  the  cards — surname  of 
Reader,  given  name,  number,  residence,  date. 

NUMBERS.  Assign  a  number  to  each  Borrower  in  the 
order  of  his  application,  and  write  it  in  the  place  indicated 
on  his  card.  Arrange  these  cards,  alphabetically  by  the 
surname  in  the  charging  case. 

The  Librarian  will  find  it  useful  to  keep  a  numerical 
register  of  borrowers  in  order  to  avoid  assigning  the  same 
number  to  different  persons. 

BOOK  CARDS.  Each  book  has  a  blue  card  with  the 
shelf  No.  written  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner.  Below  is 
a  Class  number,  Book  number,  Author  and  Title. 

When  a  book  is  given  out,  enter  the  date  of  issue  in  the 
ist  column  on  the  book  card,  and  the  borrower's  No.  in 
the  2d  column,  and  place  the  card  in  the  charging  case 
arranged  numerically  by  the  shelf  number. 

On  the  borrower's  card,  write  the  date  in  the  ist  column, 


75 

and  the  shelf  No.  of  the  book  in  the  2d,  and  replace  the 
card  in  its  numerical  order  in  the  file.  (The  shelf  No.  is 
always  on  the  back  of  the  book,  on  the  book-plate,  book- 
pocket,  and  book  card.  ) 

In  making  entries  on  the  book  cards  and  borrowers' 
cards,  do  not  skip  any  spaces  in  the  columns.  When  the 
faces  of  the  cards  are  full,  use  the  backs  in  the  same  man- 
ner. 

Use  the  blue  book  card  till  it  is  full,  then  make  a  new 
book  card  exactly  like  it,  numbering  it  carefully  "card  2" 
on  the  upper  right  hand  corner.  Preserve  and  return 
"card  i"  for  statistics. 

DATES.  Use  the  following  method  of  dating  and  ab- 
breviations for  month  and  year  : 

Ja.  F.  Mr.  Ap.  My.  Je.  Jl.  Ag.  S.  O.  N.  D. 
e.  g.  :    21  Ja.  '4.      28  Jl.  '4. 

DISCHARGING.  When  a  book  is  returned  take  its  book- 
card  from  the  charging  case,  and  replace  the  card  in  the 
book,  and  the  book  on  the  shelf.  Write  the  date  of  re- 
turn on  the  borrower's  card  in  the  next  space  to  the  right 
of  the  shelf  No.  and  return  the  card  to  the  file. 

RENEWAL.  To  renew  a  book,  enter  the  date  of  its  re- 
turn as  described  above  and  then  charge  it  exactly  as  if 
drawn  for  the  first  time. 

RESERVES.  To  reserve  a  book,  write  (in  pencil)  on  its 
card  in  the  space  for  the  next  borrower,  the  name  of  the 
reader  asking  for  the  reserve,  and  return  the  card  to  its 
place  in  the  charging  case.  When  the  book  is  brought  in, 
immediately  notify  the  person  for  whom  it  is  reserved, 
and  keep  the  book  for  him  till  the  close  of  the  first  library 
day,  ending  not  less  than  48  hours  after  sending  the  Li- 
brarian's notice.  If  not  called  for  within  the  time  specified, 
erase  the  penciled  name  and  return  the  book  card  to  the 
book. 

OVERDUE  BOOKS.  At  least  once  a  week  examine  bor- 
rowers' cards  for  overdue  books,  and  promptly  notify  any 


76 

one  more  than  a  week  in  arrears,  collecting  the  fine  on 
the  return  of  the  book.  Do  not  lend  a  book  to  any  one 
having  a  fine  unpaid.  Should  the  amount  of  the  fines  col- 
lected exceed  the  cost  of  the  library  expenses,  the  Com- 
mission should  be  notified  of  the  fact  and  will  instruct  the 
Librarian  as  to  the  disposition  of  the  fund. 

REPORTS.  Carefully  keep  and  return  all  cards  to  the 
State  Library  Commission,  Dover,  Delaware. 

If  a  new  supply  either  of  borrowers'  or  book  cards  is 
needed,  send  for  them  promptly. 

SHIPPING  DIRECTIONS.  All  express  charges,  but  not 
local  carriage,  are  paid  by  the  State  Library  Commission. 

UNPACKING.  Unscrew  the  box  cover.  Be  careful  not 
to  mar  the  book  case.  The  keys  are  in  an  envelope  tacked 
inside  the  cover.  Store  box,  cover  and  screws  in  a  safe, 
dry  place.  Package  labels  for  return  will  be  found  with 
the  book  lists. 

Mail  receipt  card  promptly  after  comparing  items  with 
contents  of  the  boxes. 

RETURNING.  Compare  books  to  be  returned  with  the 
list  sent,  examining  them  for  lost  leaves  or  mutilations. 
Take  especial  care  to  have  all  the  book  cards  in  the  books. 
Return  borrower's  cards  for  statistics. 

Pack  books  and  case  in  the  same  packing  box  and  in 
the  same  manner  in  which  they  were  sent.  Wrap  the 
charging  case  carefully  in  very  thick  folds  of  paper,  and 
have  the  outer  wrapper  securely  folded  and  fastened  on. 
The  keys  for  both  book  case  and  charging  case  should  be 
placed  in  an  envelope  and  tacked  inside  the  cover  of  the 
packing  box.  Notify  the  Commission  as  to  date  of  ship- 
ment and  express  C.  O.  D. 


Knowledge  is  of  two  kinds.  We  know  a  subject  ourselves,  or  we 
know  where  we  can  find  information  upon  it.  When  we  inquire  into 
any  subject,  the  first  thing  we  have  to  do,  is  to  know  what  books  have 
treated  of  it.  This  leads  us  to  look  at  catalogues  and  the  backs  of 
books  in  libraries. — DR.  SAMUEL  JOHNSON. 


77 

"What  we  read  with  inclination  works  a  much  stronger  impression. 

"If  we  read  without  inclination,  half  the  mind  is  employed  in  fixing 
the  attention,  so  there  is  but  one-half  to  be  employed  on  what  we 
read." — DR.  SAMUEL  JOHNSON. 


AIDS  AND  GUIDES  IN  LIBRARY  WORK. 

Dana,  J.  C.      Library  Primer.     Library  Bureau.   $i. 
Devvey,  Melvil,  ed.     Papers  prepared   for   the   American 
Library  Association  for  its   annual    meeting  held  at  the 
Columbian    Exposition,    1893.     Bureau   of  Education, 
Washington,  D.  C.      Free. 

Covers  very  fully  the  entire  field  of  library  economy 
and  will  prove  very  useful  to  any  librarian. 
Library    Bureau   Catalog.       Library    Bureau,     112    North 
Broad  Street.,  Philadelphia.      Free. 

Very  useful  to  any  worker  in  a  Library. 
Plummer,  M.  W.      Hints  to  Small  Libraries  ;   rev.  and  enl. 
Truslove,  N.  Y.,  1898.      5oc. 

Will  be  given  to  any  Free  Public  Library  in  Dela- 
ware, upon  request  to  the  State  Library  Commission. 
It  will  prove  an  invaluable  aid  to  both  Librarians 
and  District  Library  Commissioners  in  their  work  of 
organization. 

Contents :  Receiving  and  entering  books ;  book 
numbers  and  cataloguing ;  shelf  list  and  inventory  ; 
mechanical  preparation  of  books  for  the  shelves  ; 
binding ;  relations  with  the  public ;  charging  sys- 
tem ;  reading  room  ;  reference  work  ;  selecting  and 
ordering  books  ;  rooms  and  fixtures  ;  library  tools. 

LIBRARY  PBRIODICAS, 
Library  Journal.      298  Broadway,   New  York.      Monthly, 

$5.     Official  organ  of  the  A.  L.  A.  and  the  best  journal 

of  library  science  in  existence. 
Public    Libraries.       Library    Bureau.      Monthly,   $i.       A 

journal  specially  devoted  to  the  needs  of  small  libraries, 

and  very  valuable  to  them. 


78 

BOOKS  ON  CLASSIFICATION  AND  CATA- 
LOGUING. 

American  Library  Association.  List  of  Subject  Headings 
for  use  in  a  Dictionary  Catalogue.  Library  Bureau, 
Phila.  $2. 

.   Catalog  of  the  A.  L.  A.    Library;    8,000   v.    for  a 

popular  library,  selected  by  the  American  Library  As- 
sociation, to  be  shown  at  the  Louisiana  Purchase  Expo- 
sition, 1904.  Library  of  Congress,  Wash.,  D.  C.  Free. 
Shows  how  books  should  be  classified  and  catalogued, 
and  includes  a  model  dictionary  catalogue.  Will 
greatly  assist  Librarians  and  Book  Committees  in  the 
selection  and  arrangement  of  books. 

Cutter,  C.  A.  Rules  for  a  Dictionary  Catalog,  ed.  3, 
1891,  (in  U.  S.  Bureau  of  Education  special  report  on 
Public  Libraries,  pt.  2.)  U.  S.  Bureau  of  Education, 
Wash.,  D.  C.  Free. 

This  is  a  masterly  treatise  on  the  subject  by  its  in- 
ventors.    A  new  edition  is  to  be  issued  this  year. 

.    Decimal  Author  Tables.      Library  Bureau.      Phila. 

$1.25.  A  scheme  by  which  books  may  be  given  dis- 
tinctive numbers  by  which  they  may  be  alphabetically 
arranged  under  their  subjects  both  on  the  shelves  and  in 
the  catalogue. 

Dewey,  Melvil.  Abridged  Decimal  Classification  and  Rel- 
ativ  Index.  Library  Bureau,  Phila.  [1894].  $i.  Short 
form  of  the  Decimal  Classification  adapted  to  the  needs 
of  small  or  slowly  growing  Libraries. 

.   Simplified  Library  School  Rules.      Library  Bureau, 

Phila.,  1898.      Pap.  $i.  cloth  $1.25. 

Includes  card  catalog,  accession  and  shelf  list  rules, 
•    book    numbers,  library  handwriting,  punctuation  and 
abbreviations. 


79 

AIDS  IN  SELECTING  BOOKS. 

American  Library  Association.     Annotated  Lists. 

Books  for  Boys  and  Girls,  a  Selected  List  Compiled 
by  Caroline  M.  Hewins,  Librarian  of  Hartford  Pub- 
lic Library.  $.05. 

American  Library  Association.      Annotated  Lists. 

Guide  to  the  Study  and  Use  of  Reference  Books  by 
Alice  B.  Kroeger,  Director  of  Drexel  Institute  Library 
School,  Phila.  $1.25. 

American  Library  Association.  Model  Library  of  8,000 
v.  to  be  shown  by  the  American  Library  Association  at 
the  Louisiana  Purchase  Exposition,  1904.  Library  of 
Congress,  Wash.,  D.  C.  Free. 

This  list  has  been  reviewed  by  268  different  critics 
representing  leading  colleges  and  universities,  libra- 
ries and  professions. 

Its  subject  list  might  well  be  the  basis  of  any  Libra- 
ry's collection  of  books,  and  it  furnishes  a  perfect 
working  model  of  classification,  author  book  number- 
ing and  subject  heading  according  to  the  best  expert 
judgment  to  be  obtained.  No  cataloguer  nor  book 
committee  should  be  without  it. 

Carnegie  Library,  Pittsburg.  List  of  100  Entertaining 
Biographies. 

Annotated  and  very  well  selected. 

Carnegie  Library,  Pittsburg.  List  of  1053  Books  agreed 
upon  by  the  Cleveland  Public  Free  Library  and  the 
Carnegie  (Pittsburg)  Libraries  for  children's  reading. 

Iowa  Library  Commission,  DesMoines.  List  of  Books  for 
Children,  compiled  and  annotated  by  Annie  Carroll 
Moore  (of  the  children's  department  of  the  Pratt  Insti- 
tute Library,  Brooklyn.  Excellent  list.  Free. 

N.  Y.  State  Library.  Lists  of  best  books  of  the  year.  Is- 
sued annually  since  1894. 


8o 

Publisher's  Trade  List  Annual.  Catalogues  of  all  im- 
portant American  publishers  bound  together.  Pub- 
lisher's Weekly,  N.  Y.  $2  a  year. 

"Suggestive  Lists  of  Books  for  a  Small  Library,"  recom- 
mended by  the  Library  Commissions  of  Iowa,  Minne- 
sota, Wisconsin,  Nebraska  and  Delaware. 

Nine  of  these  have  been  issued  and  can  be  had  upon 
application   to   the  State   Library  Commission.    Free. 
Give  extremely  valuable   information  as  to  ordering, 
etc.,  and  annotated  lists  of  public  documents  useful 
to  a  small  Library  are  in  Nos.  7  and  8. 
To  aid  in  buying  for  small    Libraries,    three    classes    of 
books  are  marked  :   (a)  20  most  important   books    of   the 
year;   (b)  includes  30  next    most    important    books;  and 
(c)  indicates  50  more,  to  make  up  100  books. 

PERIODICALS. 
Athenaeum,  London,  Eng.     $3. 
N.  Y.  Times  Saturday  Book  Review,  Weekly.     $i. 
Publisher's  Weekly,  59  Duane  St.,  N.  Y.     $3. 
American  Book  Trade  Journal. 

PERIODICAL  SUBSCRIPTION  AGENCIES. 
Kenyon  News  and  Postal  Subscription  Co. ,  Chic. ,  Ills. 
Stechert,  Gustav  E.     9  E.  i6th  Street. 

FITTINGS  AND  SUPPLIES. 

Library  Bureau.      112  North  Broad  St.,  Phila. , 

For  all  catalogue  and  shelf  list  cards  and  such  other  ma- 
terial as  is  especially  designed  for  Library  use. 

W.  H.  Hoskins  Co.,  904  Chestnut  St.,  Phila. 
Other  supplies. 


If  thou  wilt  receive  profit,  read  with  humility,  simplicity  and    faith  ; 
and  seek  not  at  any  time  the  fame  of  being  learned. 

THOMAS  A  KEMPIS. 


8i 

ADDITIONAL  USEFUL  ADDRESSES. 

Second-hand  (and  New)  Books. 
Leary,  Stuart  &  Co.,  9  South  Ninth  St.,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 

Shop-worn  Books. 

Philadelphia  Book-Store  Co.,  1516  Chestnut  St., 

Philadelphia,  Pa. 

Bargain  Books. 
Cora  E.  McDevitt,  i  Barclay  St.,  New  York,  N.  Y. 

Book-Binder. 

Robert  T.  Stewart  &  Son,  615  Shipley  St., 

Wilmington,  Del. 

All  of  these  firms  will  give  trustworthy  and  efficient 
service,  and  small  Libraries  can  save  a  great  deal  of  money 
by  employing  their  aid  in  addition  to  that  of  their  regular 
bookdealers. 


THE  BOOK. 

There  is  no  frigate  like  a  book 

To  take  us  leagues  away, 
Nor  any  coursers  like  a  page 

Of  prancing  poetry. 
This  traverse  may  the  poorest  take 

Without  oppress  of  toll  ; 
Hoty  frugal  is  the  chariot 

That  bears  a  human  soul ! 

EMILY  DICKINSON. 


82 

PENALTY  FOR  INJURY  TO  LIBRARY 
PROPERTY. 

AN  ACT 

TO    PREVENT    MALICIOUS    INJURY    IN     LIBRARIES,     MUSEUMS 
AND    EDUCATIONAL    INSTITUTIONS. 

Be  it  enacted,  &c. 

Section  i.  If  any  person,  having  access  to  or  being 
in  possession  of  any  book,  magazine,  newspaper,  pamphlet, 
manuscript,  map,  chart,  plan,  painting,  picture,  engraving, 
photograph  or  other  work  of  literature  or  object  of  art, 
science,  mechanical  skill  or  curiosity  owned  by  or  deposited 
in  any  Library  incorporated  by  or  organized  under  the 
laws  of  this  State,  or  in  the  Library,  cabinet  or  museum  of 
any  educational  institution,  or  the  Historical  Society  in 
this  State,  shall  wilfully  or  maliciously  cut,  mark,  mutilate, 
deface,  soil,  obliterate,  break,  destroy,  or  in  anywise  in- 
jure the  same,  write  in  or  upon  the  same,  or  procure 
the  same  to  be  done,  or  shall  wilfully  or  maliciously  in- 
jure or  deface  any  label,  tag,  book-plate,  book-card  or 
book-pocket,  or  the  Library  marks  or  numbers  on  the 
same,  such  person  shall  be  deemed  guilty  of  a  misdemea- 
nor, and  upon  conviction  thereof  shall  be  fined  not  exceed- 
ing twenty-five  dollars  or  imprisoned  not  exceeding  six 
months,  or  both,  at  the  discretion  of  the  court. 

Passed  at  Dover,  March  25, 


An  author  may  be  considered  as  a  merciful    substitute  for   the  Legis- 
lature.     He  acts  not  by  punishing  crimes,  but  by  preventing  them. 

GOLDSMITH. 


83 

SYNOPSIS 

OF  THE  LAW  RELATING  TO  THE 
ESTABLISHMENT  OF 

FREE    PUBLIC    LIBRARIES 

by  the 
SCHOOL  DISTRICTS. 

Section  3.  The  Commission  shall  have  general  super- 
vision of  all  Libraries  in  the  State  established  under  this 
law  ...  It  shall  demand  such  reports  as  it  deems 
proper  and  shall  certify  to  the  State  Treasurer  when  any 
such  Library  is  entitled  to  State  aid.  .  .  . 

Section  4.  Provides  that  any  School  District  in  the 
State  may  receive  gifts  or  bequests  for  the  foundation  or 
maintenance  of  a  Free  Public  Library. 

Section  5.  Authorizes  any  School  District  to  establish 
a  Free  Public  Library  if  a  majority  of  the  electors  of  the 
School  District  vote  in  favor  of  doing  so. 

Section  6.     For  the  purposes  of  this  Act,  all  the  School 
Districts  of  the  State  are  classified  according  to    the  sums 
which  their  several  Boards  of  Education  or  School   Com- 
mittees  are   legally   authorized   to   raise   by  taxation    for 
school  expenses.     The  classification  is  as  follows  : 
First  class  Districts  annually  raise  from  .  $6,000  upward. 
Second  "       •'  "  "    between  4,000  to  #6,000 

Third     "        "  "  "         "          2,000  to    4,000 

Fourth  "        "  "  "          "          1,000  to    2,000 

Fifth      "        "  "  "          "  500  to     1,000 

Sixth      "        "  "  "          "  200  to        500 

Seventh"       "  "  "     less  than     200. 

Section  7.  Provides  that  upon  request  of  a  sufficient 
number  of  electors  to  their  Board  of  Education  or  School 
Committee  of  any  School  District,  thirty  days  before  the 
regular  school  election,  the  question  as  to  the  establish- 
ment of  a  Free  Public  Library  in  the  District  must  be 


84 

submitted  to  the  voters  at  a  special  election  to  be  held 
the  next  day  after  the  regular  election.  The  number  of 
electors  who  must  so  petition  is  as  follows  : 

For  First  and  Second-class  Districts,  20  electors. 

For  Third,  Fourth  and  Fifth  class  Districts,  10  electors. 

For  Sixth  and  Seventh  class  Districts,  5  electors. 

Section  8.  The  vote  must  be  by  ballot  upon  which 
shall  be  written  or  printed  either  the  words  "For  a  Free 
Library,"  or  ''Against  a  Free  Library,"  and  a  majority  of 
the  ballots  cast  at  this  special  election  shall  decide  the 
question.  All  persons  entitled  to  vote  at  the  last  regular 
school  election  are  entitled  to  vote  at  this  special  election 
also. 

The  place  of  voting,  conduct  of  the  election,  counting 
of  ballots  and  the  like  shall  be  as  provided  by  law  in  the 
District  wherein  the  question  is  submitted. 

The  Board  of  Education  or  School  Committee  upon  be- 
ing petitioned  to  submit  this  question  to  the  voters,  must 
post  notices  {see  p.  9)  to  that  effect  in  at  least  five  public 
places  in  the  District  at  least  ten  days  before  the  election 
is  to  take  place,  and  the  notices  must  state  not  only  the 
question  to  be  voted  upon,  but  shall  state  when  and  where 
the  election  shall  be  held. 

In  case  the  Board  of  Education  or  School  Committee 
neglects  or  refuses  to  give  such  notice,  any  qualified  elector 
may  do  so  and  their  notice  shall  be  equally  effectual. 

Section  9.  If  the  vote  shall  be  against  the  establish- 
ment of  a  Free  Public  Library  the  question  may  be  brought 
up  again  in  the  same  way  at  a  special  election  the  day  after 
the  next  school  election. 

Section  10.  If  the  vote  is  in  favor  of  the  establishment 
of  a  Free  Public  Library,  then  the  Board  of  Education  or 
School  Committee  is  required  to  raise  by  taxation  a  sum  of 
money  for  the  purpose.  The  amount  of  the  sum  to  be 
raised  shall  be  determined  by  the  class  to  which  the  Dis- 
trict belongs  and  will  be  as  follows : 


85 

For  First    class  Districts,  from $250  to  $600 

For  Second   "  "  between 150  to  400 

For  Third      "  "  "  .    :    ,  100  to  300 

For  Fourth    "  "  "  ......  75  to  200 

For  Fifth       "  "  "  50  to  150 

For  Sixth       "  "  "  40  to  100 

For  Seventh  "  "  "  25  to  75 

Annually  thereafter  the  Board  of  Education  or  School 
Committee  shall  raise  the  specified  sum  for  the  support 
and  increase  of  the  Library  established. 

All  such  sums  shall  be  raised  as  those  for  current  school 
expenses  are,  and,  if  the  Board  of  Education  or  School 
Committee  deem  it  necessary,  they  may  be  in  addition  to 
to  the  amount  authorized  in  the  District  for  such  school 
expenses. 

Any  District  may  fix  the  sum  to  be  raised  for  Library 
support  during  the  ensuing  year,  providing  the  sum  raised 
is  not  less  than  the  minimum  required  by  law  according  to 
the  table  above. 

The  vote  to  fix  a  sum  shall  be  by  ballot. 

Section  n.  A  Free  Public  Library  having  been  voted 
for,  the  Board  of  Education  or  School  Committee  must  im- 
mediately elect  a  School  District  Library  Commission  of 
which  the  number  of  members  and  the  length  of  their 
terms  shall  be  according  to  the  class  of  their  District  as 
follows  : 
For  First  and  Second  class  Districts,  3  members  for  i  year 

For       «'  «  '(  «  «  2      " 

]?QI-       «  «(  (i  ei  it  ?" 

For  Third  and  Fourth   "  ""  2  "  i  " 

For       "                tl          tl  "  2  "  2  ft 

For       «                «         '<  «  I  (t  3  " 

For    5th,  6th  and  7th  "  "  i  "  i  " 

For       "      "             "    "  "  2  "  2  " 

For       «       tt             t*    tt  «  T  K  3  (< 


86 


All  of  these  members  shall  serve  until  their  successors 
are  duly  chosen  and  qualified. 

Having  established  a  Free  Public  Library,  thereafter  the 
electors  must  annually  elect  the  members  of  their  School 
District  Library  Commission  at  a  special  election  to  be 
held  the  day  after  the  regular  school  election. 

The  members  may  or  may  not  be  members  of  the  Board 
of  Education  or  School  Committee,  and  they  may  be  either 
women  or  men. 

Section  12.  The  first  meeting  of  the  District  Library 
Commission  shall  be  on  the  first  Tuesday  next  succeeding 
the  election  of  its  members,  and  it  must  organize  by  elect- 
ing a  Chairman,  Secretary  and  such  other  officials  as  it 
deems  necessary. 

The  Treasurer  of  the  School  District  shall  be  Treasurer 
of  the  Library  Commission,  and  subject  to  the  Commission 
as  to  the  money  of  which  the  Commission  has  custody. 

A  vacancy  in  the  Commission  may  be  filled  by  the  Com- 
mission till  the  next  election  of  members  occurs.  A  fail- 
ure to  attend  three  successive  meetings  of  the  Commission 
may  be  declared  a  vacancy  at  the  option  of  the  other 
members. 

Section  13.  The  District  Library  Commission  shall 
have  entire  control  of  the  Library  and  its  property  of  all 
sorts. 

It  shall  make  an  explicit  report  to  the  District  at  each 
annual  school  meeting  of  all  its  receipts  and  expenditures, 
and  of  all  the  property  in  its  care. 

It  shall  also  recommend  as  to  the  amount  of  money  it 
deems  necessary  to  raise  for  the  Library  for  the  ensuing 
year,  and  must  do  so  before  fixing  the  rate  of  taxation  for 
the  Library  by  the  Board  of  Education  or  the  School 
Committee.  It  shall  also  make  such  reports  embracing 
such  matters  as  the  State  Library  Commission  shall  require. 

The  District  Library  Commission  shall  also  have  the 
power  to  obtain  or  to  accept  room  and  equipment  for  a 


87 

Library  and  to  employ  the  necessary  caretakers  and  to 
have  all  necessary  powers  for  the  foundation  and  mainten- 
ance of  a  Library,  including  the  making  of  all  rules  and 
regulations  for  the  conduct  of  its  employees,  use  of  its 
property  and  the  conduct  of  people  in  and  about  the 
Library,  providing  the  use  of  it,  its  reading  matter  and 
privileges  are  free  to  people  in  the  District  or  to  any  per- 
son outside  the  District  who  owns  property  assessable  with- 
in it. 

The  District  Library  Commission  is  authorized  to  en- 
force these  rules  by  a  penalty  which  it  may  impose  at  its 
discretion. 

This  penalty  may  consist  either  of  a  suspension  of  the 
privileges  of  the  Library,  or  of  a  money  fine  which  may 
be  collected,  if  necessary,  by  proceedings  instituted  in  the 
name  of  the  District  before  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  of  the 
County. 

The  money  thus  collected  must  be  paid  to  the  District 
Library  Commission  to  be  used  for  the  Library. 

Section  14.  The  District  Library  Commission  may,  in 
its  discretion  and  upon  payment  of  such  fee  as  it  deems 
proper,  admit  persons  living  outside  the  District  to  use  the 
Library,  and  reading  room  in  the  same  manner  as  the 
residents  of  the  District. 

Section  15.  Any  two  or  more  School  Districts  may 
unite  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  the  benefit  of  this  Act. 

Whenever  five  electors  of  any  such  Districts  shall  petition 
therefor,  the  committee  shall  arrange  with  the  Boards  of 
Education  or  School  Committees  of  any  other  said  Districts 
for  a  special  election  to  determine  the  establishment  of  a 
Free  Public  Library  for  said  Districts.  For  the  purposes 
of  this  Act,  such  Districts  shall  be  considered  as  belonging 
to  the  class  which  any  one  of  the  said  Districts  would  have 
belonged  to  if  they  had  not  united. 

Section  16.     Whenever  the  State  Library  Commission 


88 


shall  certify  to  the  State  Treasurer  that  any  School  District 
or  union  of  School  Districts  has  established  a  Free  Public 
Library  according  to  the  provisions  of  this  law,  then  the 
State  Treasurer  shall  pay  to  the  District  Library  Commis- 
sion one-half  the  lowest  sum  prescribed  in  Section  10,  for 
the  class  in  which  these  Districts  belong,  and  annually 
thereafter  he  shall  pay  a  like  sum  to  the  District  Library 
Commission  upon  the  certificate  of  the  State  Library  Com- 
mission that  the  District  has  raised  its  necessary  quota  for 
the  support  of  its  Free  Public  Library. 


I  am  not  going  to  speak  with  disparagement  of  the  library  of  refer- 
ence, but  I  am  going  to  speak  with  peculiar  admiration  and  affection  of 
the  library  of  circulation;  and  or  this  reason: — because  it  tends  to 
purify  and  maintain  that  which  is  the  very  strength  of  a  nation,  the  very 
glory  of  a  people;  among  all  the  ordinances  of  God,  the  most  merciful 
and  the  most  amicable — the  domestic  system  of  the  country.  And  I 
hope  that  many  a  husband,  and  many  a  brother,  availing  himself  of  the 
opportunity  offered,  will  carry  the  book  to  his  own  fireside,  and  make 
his  wife  and  his  children,  or  his  mother  and  his  sister,  partake  of  his 
studies.  — SHAFTESBUR  Y. 


89 


LAWS  OF  DELAWARE. 
VOL.  22. 

CHAPTER  362. 

OK    FREE    PUBLIC    LIBRARIES. 

AN  ACT 
PROVIDING  FOR  THE   ESTABLISHMENT  AND    MAINTENANCE 

OF  FREE  PUBLIC  LIBRARIES. 
Be  it  enacted,  &c. 

Section  i.  That  as  soon  as  may  be  after  the  adoption 
of  this  Act,  there  shall  be  created  and  established  a  board 
to  be  known  as  "The  State  Library  Commission  for  the 
State  of  Delaware."  Said  Commission  shall  be  composed 
of  nine  persons  to  be  appointed  by  the  Governor,  who 
shall  respectively  hold  office  for  the  term  of  five  years  or 
until  their  successors  are  duly  chosen  ;  provided,  that  in 
the  first  Commission  created  under  this  Act,  the  Governor 
shall  appoint  three  members  for  the  term  of  one  year, 
three  members  for  the  term  of  three  years,  and  three  mem- 
bers for  the  term  of  five  years.  All  vacancies  on  said 
Commission,  whether  occurring  by  expiration  of  term,  or 
otherwise,  shall  be  filled  by  the  Governor.  No  person 
shall  be  ineligible  by  reason  of  sex  to  serve  on  the  Com- 
mission. 

Section  2.  The  said  Commission  shall  organize  by  the 
selection  from  its  members  of  a  chairman  and  such  other 
officers  as  are  or  may  be  deemed  advisable  ;  provided,  that 
the  State  Librarian  shall,  by  virtue  of  his  office,  be  the 
Secretary  of  said  Commission,  but  shall  have  no  vote  or 
voice  in  the  acts  and  proceedings  of  said  Commission.  No 
member  shall  receive  any  salary  or  compensation  for  his 
services  as  such  Commissioner. 

The  Commission  is  hereby  authorized  and  empowered  to 
expend  such  sum  or  sums  as  it  shall  deem  proper  and  neces- 
sary for  effectuating  the  objects  of  this  Act,  provided  said 


sums  shall  not  in  the  aggregate  in  any  one  year  exceed  the 
sum  of  seven  hundred  dollars  exclusive  of  the  expenses  ac- 
tually incurred  by  the  members  in  attendance  on  the  Com- 
mission, and  of  sums  expended  for  necessary  printing,  post- 
age and  stationery.  Such  sums,  together  with  the  actual 
expenses  of  the  members  incurred  in  attending  the  Com- 
mission and  all  bills  for  necessary  printing,  postage  and 
stationery,  shall  be  paid  by  the  State  Treasurer  to  the  said 
Commission,  upon  the  order  or  orders  of  its  Chairman  or 
President,  attested  by  its  Secretary. 

Section  3.  The  said  Commission  shall  have  general  su- 
pervision over  all  Libraries  in  this  State  established  or 
maintained  under  the  provisions  of  this  Act ;  and  shall 
have  the  supervision  and  control  of  all  circulating  Libraries 
now,  or  hereafter  to  be,  established  under  the  provisions  of 
Chapter  220,  of  Volume  21,  of  the  Laws  of  Delaware; 
shall  have  power  to  require  of  any  and  all  District  Library 
Commissions  created  as  hereinafter  provided  such  reports  as 
are  or  may  be  deemed  proper ;  shall  make  certificate  to 
the  State  Treasurer  when  any  Library  is  entitled  to  State 
aid,  as  hereafter  provided  ;  and  shall  have  all  further  and 
other  powers  necessary  and  proper  for  the  general  super- 
vision of  the  Libraries  aforesaid.  The  State  Library  Com- 
mission shall  have  power  to  make  all  rules  and  by-laws  for 
its  own  government.  The  said  Commission  shall,  in  the 
month  of  January  in  each  year  in  which  there  is  a  regular 
biennial  session  of  the  General  Assembly  of  this  State, 
make  report  to  said  General  Assembly  of  its  doings  and  of 
any  recommendations  deemed  advisable. 

Section  4.  Any  single,  united,  consolidated  or  incor- 
porated School  District  in  this  State  may  receive  in  its 
corporate  capacity  and  hold  any  devise,  bequest  or  dona- 
tion for  the  foundation  and  establishment  or  for  the  main- 
tenance, support  and  increase  of  a  Free  Public  Library 
within  the  same. 

Section  5.     Any  single,  united,  consolidated  or  incor- 


9' 

porated  School  District  in  this  State  is  hereby  authorized 
and  empowered  to  establish  and  maintain  a  Free  Public 
Library,  with  or  without  reading  room,  provided  that  at 
any  election  held  as  hereinafter  provided,  a  majority  of  the 
qualified  electors  of  said  School  District  then  present  and 
voting,  shall  vote  in  favor  of  such  establishment. 

Section  6.  For  the  purposes  of  this  Act,  all  the  School 
Districts  in  this  State,  single,  united,  consolidated  and  in- 
corporated, are  classified  according  to  the  sums  which  the 
several  Boards  of  Education  or  School  Committees  are  au- 
thorized by  law  to  levy  and  raise  by  taxation  annually  for 
current  school  expenses,  as  follows,  namely  : 

Every  District  in  which  the  sum  authorized  as  aforesaid 
is  six  thousand  dollars  or  more,  shall  be  deemed  and  taken 
to  be  a  District  of  the  First  Class  ;  every  District  in  which 
the  sum  authorized  as  aforesaid  is  not  less  than  four  thous- 
and nor  as  much  as  six  thousand  dollars,  shall  be  deemed 
and  taken  to  be  a  District  of  the  Second  Class  ;  every  Dis- 
trict in  which  the  sum  authorized  as  aforesaid  is  not  less 
than  two  thousand,  nor  as  much  as  four  thousand  dollars, 
shall  be  deemed  and  taken  to  be  a  District  of  the  Third 
Class  ;  every  District  in  which  the  sum  authorized  as  afore- 
said is  not  less  than  one  thousand,  nor  as  much  as  two 
thousand  dollars,  shall  be  deemed  and  taken  to  be  a  District 
of  the  Fourth  Class ;  every  District  in  which  the  sum  au- 
thorized as  aforesaid  is  not  less  than  five  hundred,  nor  as 
much  as  one  thousand  dollars,  shall  be  deemed  and  taken 
to  to  be  a  district  of  the  Fifth  Class ;  every  District  in 
which  the  sum  authorized  as  aforesaid  is  not  less  than  two 
hundred,  nor  as  much  as  five  hundred  dollars,  shall  be 
deemed  and  taken  to  be  a  District  of  the  Sixth  Class  ;  and 
every  District  in  which  the  sum  authorized  as  aforesaid  is 
less  than  two  hundred  dollars  shall  be  deemed  and  taken 
to  be  a  District  of  the  Seventh  Class. 

Section  7.  Every  Board  of  Education  or  School  Com- 
mittee in  this  State  shall  submit  the  question  as  to  the  es- 


92 

tablishment  of  a  Free  Public  Library  in  said  District  to 
the  qualified  electors  thereof,  at  a  special  election  to  be 
held  on  the  day  next  following  the  ensuing  regular  school 
election  in  such  District,  not  being  Sunday  or  a  legal  holi- 
day ;  provided  said  Board  or  Committee  be  petitioned  so 
to  do  thirty  days  at  least  before  the  next  succeeding  regular 
school  election  in  such  District,  by  a  number  of  the  quali- 
fied electors  thereof.  The  number  of  qualified  electors 
who  must  petition  as  aforesaid,  shall  be  as  follows,  name- 
ly :  in  Districts  of  the  First  or  Second  Class,  twenty  quali- 
fied electors;  in  Districts  of  the  Third,  Fourth  or  Fifth 
Class,  ten  qualified  electors  ;  and  in  Districts  of  the  Sixth 
or  Seventh  Class,  five  qualified  electors. 

Section  8.  The  vote  on  the  question  as  to  the  establish- 
ment of  a  Free  Public  Library,  when  submitted  as  aforesaid, 
shall  be  by  ballot,  upon  which  shall  be  printed  or  written 
either  the  words  "For  a  Free  Library,"  or  the  words 
' 'Against  a  Free  Library."  A  majority  of  the  ballots  cast 
legally  at  said  election  shall  determine  the  question.  All 
persons  entitled  to  vote  at  the  regular  school  election  next 
before  such  special  election  shall  be  entitled  to  vote  on 
such  question.  In  all  respects  the  place  of  voting,  and  the 
conduct  of  the  election,  counting  of  ballots,  and  the  like, 
shall  be  as  now  are,  or  hereafter  may  be,  provided  by  law 
for  the  regular  school  election  in  the  School  District  where- 
in such  question  is  submitted.  Provided,  that  the  Board 
of  Education  or  School  Committee,  upon  being  petitioned 
to  submit  the  question  of  the  establishment  of  a  Free  Library 
as  hereinbefore  provided,  shall  give  notice  of  such  sub- 
mission by  printed  advertisements  posted  in  at  least  five 
public  places  in  said  District  at  least  ten  days  before  the 
election.  The  said  advertisements  shall  state  the  question 
to  be  submitted  as  hereinbefore  provided,  and  the  time 
and  place  of  voting  upon  such  question.  In  case  any 
Board  of  Education  or  School  Committee  shall  neglect  or 
refuse  to  give  such  notice,  any  qualified  elector  may  do  so, 


93 

and    the    notice    so    given   shall   be  as  effectual  as  though 
given  by  said  Board  or  Committee. 

Section  9.  If  a  majority  of  the  ballots  cast  as  aforesaid 
shall  be  against  the  establishment  of  a  Free  Library,  the 
question  as  to  such  establishment  may  again  be  submitted 
at  special  elections  to  be  held  on  the  day  next  following 
any  regular  school  election  thereafter  ensuing  (not  being 
Sunday  or  a  legal  holiday)  as  often  as  petitions  therefor 
shall  be  presented  to  the  said  Board  of  Education  or 
School  Committee  as  hereinbefore  provided. 

Section  10.  If  at  any  election  the  qualified  electors 
shall  in  the  manner  aforesaid,  declare  in  favor  of  the  es- 
tablishment of  a  Free  Public  Library  in  any  District,  then 
the  Board  of  Education  or  School  Committee  thereof  shall, 
and  it  is  hereby  authorized,  empowered  and  required  to 
levy  and  raise  by  taxation  for  the  purpose  of  the  establish- 
ment of  such  Library  therein,  and  also  for  the  maintenance, 
increase  and  support  of  said  Library  for  the  year  then  next 
ensuing,  a  sum  determinable  by  the  class  in  which  such 
District  belongs,  that  is  to  say :  If  such  District  be  of  the 
First  Class,  the  sum  required  to  be  levied  and  raised  as 
aforesaid  shall  be  not  less  than  two  hundred  and  fifty,  nor 
more  than  six  hundred  dollars  ;  if  such  District  be  of  the 
Second  Class,  the  sum  so  required  as  aforesaid  shall  be 
not  less  than  one  hundred  and  fifty,  nor  more  than  four 
hundred  dollars  ;  if  such  District  be  of  the  Third  Class  the 
sum  so  required  as  aforesaid  shall  be  not  less  than  one 
hundred,  nor  more  than  three  hundred  dollars ;  if  such 
District  be  of  the  Fourth  Class,  the  sum  so  required  as 
aforesaid  shall  be  not  less  than  seventy-five  dollars,  nor 
more  than  two  hundred  dollars ;  if  such  District  be  of  the 
Fifth  Class,  the  sum  so  required  as  aforesaid  shall  be  not 
less  than  fifty,  nor  more  than  one  hundred  and  fifty  dol- 
lars ;  if  such  District  be  of  the  Sixth  Class,  the  sum  so  re- 
quired as  aforesaid  shall  be  not  less  than  forty,  nor  more 
than  one  hundred  dollars  ;  and  if  such  District  be  of  the 


94 

Seventh  Class,  the  sum  so  required  as  aforesaid  shall  be 
not  less  than  twenty-five,  nor  more  than  seventy-five 
dollars. 

And  annually  thereafter,  such  Board  of  Education  or 
School  Committee  shall  levy  and  raise  by  taxation  for  the 
maintenance  and  increase  of  the  Library  so  established  as 
aforesaid,  a  sum  as  hereinbefore  prescribed  and  limited  in 
this  section  for  the  establishment  of  such  Library. 

All  sums  authorized  to  be  levied  and  raised  by  taxation 
under  this  Act,  shall  be  levied,  raised  and  collected  as 
school  taxes  for  current  school  expenses  are,  and  shall,  if 
the  said  Board  or  Committee  deem  it  necessary,  be  in  ex- 
cess of  and  in  addition  to  the  sum  or  amount  authorized 
to  be  raised  in  said  District  by  taxation  for  current  school 
expenses. 

Any  District  in  which  a  Library  has  been  established  as 
aforesaid,  may  fix  any  sum  (not  less  than  the  minimum 
sum  required  to  be  raised  in  said  District  as  hereinbefore 
prescribed  in  this  section)  to  be  levied  and  raised  in  the 
District  for  the  maintenance  and  increase  of  the  Library 
therein  during  the  ensuing  year  :  the  vote  to  fix  any  sum 
shall  be  by  ballot,  and  a  majority  of  the  ballots  cast  at 
such  election  shall  determine  the  question. 

Section  n.  Every  School  District  in  this  State  which 
shall  establish  a  Free  Public  Library  pursuant  to  the  pro- 
visions of  this  Act,  shall  annually  thereafter,  at  an  election 
held  on  the  day  next  following  the  regular  school  election 
(not  being  Sunday  or  a  legal  holiday)  elect  members  of  a 
School  District  Library  Commission. 

The  said  District  Library  Commission  shall  be  com- 
posed of  the  following  number  of  members,  namely  :  if  it 
be  a  Commission  in  a  District  of  the  First  or  Second  Class, 
nine  members ;  in  a  District  of  the  Third  or  Fourth  Class, 
five  members  ;  in  a  District  of  the  Fifth,  Sixth  or  Seventh 
Class,  three  members.  The  members  shall  hold  office  for 


95 

the  term  of  three  years,  or  until  their  successors  are  duly 
elected  and  qualified  ;  provided  that  at  the  first  election  of 
said  Commission  next  succeeding  the  establishment  of  a 
Free  Public  Library  as  aforesaid  the  members  of  said  Com- 
mission shall  be  elected  for  the  following  terms,  namely  : 
for  a  District  of  the  First  or  Second  Class,  three  members 
shall  be  elected  for  one  year,  three  for  two  years,  and 
three  for  three  years,  or  until  their  successors  are  duly 
chosen  and  qualified ;  for  a  District  of  the  Third  or 
Fourth  Class,  two  of  the  members  shall  be  elected  for  one 
year,  two  for  two  years,  and  one  for  three  years,  or  until 
their  successors  are  duly  chosen  and  qualified  ;  for  a  Dis- 
trict of  the  Fifth,  Sixth  or  Seventh  class,  one  of  the  mem- 
bers shall  be  elected  for  one  year,  one  for  two  years,  and 
one  for  three  years,  or  until  their  successors  are  duly 
chosen  and  qualified ;  provided  further,  that  the  Board  of 
Education  or  School  Committee  in  any  School  District 
wherein  the  question  as  to  the  establishment  of  a  Free 
Public  Library  has  been  submitted  and  carried  in  favor  of 
such  establishment  as  hereinbefore  provided,  shall,  as 
soon  as  may  be  after  the  decision  upon  such  question  has 
been  ascertained,  elect  all  of  the  members  of  such  District 
Library  Commission  to  compose  the  first  District  Library 
Commission  to  act  until  their  successors  have  been  elected 
by  the  qualified  electors  of  the  District  at  the  time  herein- 
before provided  for  such  election. 

The  members  of  any  District  Library  Commission  may  or 
may  not  be  members  of  the  Board  of  Education  or  School 
Committee  of  the  District  and  no  person  shall  be  ineligible 
to  serve  on  said  Commission  by  reason  of  sex.  The  election 
of  the  members  of  said  Commission  at  any  district  election 
shall  be  by  ballot  by  the  qualified  electors  of  said  District, 
and,  in  all  other  respects  except  as  to  the  day  of  election 
shall  be  conducted  as  is  the  election  of  members  of  the 
Board  of  Education  or  School  Committee  in  the  District. 

Section  12.     The  first  meeting  of  the  District  Library 


96 

Commission  shall  be  on  the  evening  of  Tuesday  next  suc- 
ceeding the  election  of  its  members.  The  Commission 
shall  organize  by  electing  from  its  members  a  chairman 
and  secretary,  and  such  other  officers  as  it  may  deem 
proper.  The  treasurer  of  the  School  District  shall  be  the 
treasurer  of  said  Commission,  and  shall  be  subject  to  all 
orders  of  said  Commission  relative  to  moneys  in  his  hands 
of  which  the  said  Commission  has  custody,  as  provided  in 
this  Act.  The  official  bond  of  said  treasurer  shall  be  held 
and  deemed  to  cover  and  include  all  such  moneys,  and  the 
due  and  proper  accounting  therefor.  A  vacancy  in  said 
Commission  caused  by  refusal  to  act,  death,  resignation  or 
otherwise,  shall  be  filled  by  said  Commission  until  the 
regular  school  election  next  succeeding.  A  failure  to  at- 
tend three  meetings  of  said  Commission  in  succession  shall, 
at  the  option  of  said  Commission,  be  deemed  a  vacancy. 

Section  13.  The  District  Library  Commission  so  elected 
as  aforesaid  shall  have  the  entire  custody  and  manage- 
ment of  the  Library  and  all  property  owned  or  leased,  or 
donated,  relating  thereto,  and  all  money  raised  by  the 
District  or  donated  for  its  establishment  and  maintenance, 
or  paid  by  the  State  Treasurer,  as  hereinafter  provided, 
shall  be  placed  in  the  care  and  custody  of  said  Commission 
to  be  expended  or  retained  by  said  Commission  for  and  in 
behalf  of  the  District  for  the  foundation  and  establishment 
and  for  the  maintenance  and  increase  of  its  Free  Pubiic 
Library. 

The  Commission  shall  make  an  explicit  report  to  the 
District  at  each  annual  school  meeting  of  all  its  receipts 
and  expenditures,  and  of  all  the  property  of  the  District  in 
its  care  and  custody,  including  a  statement  of  any  unex- 
pended balance  of  money,  and  of  any  bequests  or  do- 
nations in  behalf  of  the  District,  and  of  any  sum  or  sums 
received  from  the  State  as  hereinafter  provided,  with  such 
recommendations  with  reference  to  same  as  is  deemed 
necessary  for  the  District  to  consider. 


97 

The  said  Commission  shall  also  make  report  and  recom- 
mendation concerning  the  amount  of  money  deemed 
necessary  and  proper  by  said  Commission  to  be  raised  by 
taxation  for  any  one  year  for  said  Library,  to  the  Board  of 
Education  or  School  Committee  after  the  selection  of  said 
Commission  as  aforesaid  and  prior  to  the  fixing  of  the  rate 
of  taxation  for  said  purpose  by  said  Board  of  Education, 
or  School  Committee.  The  said  District  Library  Com- 
mission shall  also  make  such  reports,  at  such  times  and 
embracing  such  matters,  to  the  State  Library  Commission 
created  by  this  Act  as  the  said  State  Library  Commission 
shall  order  and  direct. 

The  said  District  Library  Commission  shall  also  have 
the  power  to  procure  by  purchase,  lease  or  acceptance  of  a 
gift  or  donation,  a  room  or  rooms  for  said  Library,  and  to 
fit  and  furnish  for  the  heat  and  light  in  the  same,  and  the 
care  thereof;  and  may,  with  the  consent  of  the  Board  of 
Education  or  the  School  Committee,  use  any  school  room 
or  rooms  for  this  purpose  ;  to  purchase  or  accept  donations 
or  gifts  of  books,  magazines,  newspapers  and  reviews ;  to 
employ  a  librarian  or  librarians  and  a  custodian  and  care- 
taker, and  shall  have  such  further  and  additional  powers 
in  the  premises  as  are  or  may  be  deemed  necessary  for  the 
foundation  and  establishment,  and  the  support  and  main- 
tenance of  a  Library,  or  a  Library  and  reading  room. 

The  said  Commission  shall  also  have  the  power  to  make 
such  rules  and  regulations  for  the  conduct  of  the  persons 
employed  by  it,  and  for  the  care  and  use  of  the  books, 
newspapers,  magazines  and  reviews  in  said  Library  by  the 
persons  having  authority  to  use  said  Library,  and  also  con- 
cerning the  conduct  and  deportment  of  all  persons  while 
in  or  about  said  Library  or  Library  and  reading  room,  as 
said  Commission  shall  or  may  from  time  to  time  deem 
proper  and  advisable  ;  provided,  the  use  of  said  Library 
or  Library  and  reading  room  or  the  contents  thereof  shall 
be  free  to  said  District,  or  to  any  person  outside  the  Dis- 


98 

trict  who  owns  real  estate  assessable  for  the  school  of  the 
District.  The  rules  and  regulations  so  made  by  said  Com- 
mission shall  be  enforcible  by  a  penalty  which  the  Commis- 
sion is  hereby  authorized  the  same  for  a  Library,  or  a  Li- 
brary and  reading  room,  to  provide  to  impose. 

Such  penalty  shall  consist  either  of  a  suspension  from  the 
privileges  of  said  Library  or  Library  and  reading  room  and 
the  contents  thereof,  or  by  a  money  fine.  All  money 
fines  imposed  as  aforesaid  may  be  collected  by  proceedings 
instituted  in  the  corporate  name  of  the  District  before  any 
Justice  of  the  Peace  of  the  County,  and  jurisdiction  to 
hear  and  finally  determine  all  such  proceedings  is  hereby 
conferred  upon  any  and  all  Justices  of  the  Peace.  The 
process,  mode  of  proceeding  and  rendering  of  judgment 
shall  be  as  now  is,  or  hereafter  may  be,  provided  by  law 
for  the  collection  of  fines  before  Justices  of  the  Peace. 

All  fines  so  collected  shall  be  paid  to  the  District  and  by 
it  paid  over  to  the  District  Library  Commission  to  be  used 
as  other  money  of  which  it  has  the  custody  and  care  as 
hereinbefore  provided. 

Section  14.  In  addition  to  its  other  powers,  the  Dis- 
trict Library  Commission  may,  if  it  deem  proper,  permit 
persons  living  without  the  corporate  limits  of  said  District, 
to  enjoy  and  use  said  Library  or  Library  and  reading  room 
exactly  as  though  residents  of  said  District,  upon  the  pay- 
ment to  said  Commission  for  the  use  of  the  Library  such 
fee  or  fees  as  said  Commission  shall  deem  proper. 

Section  15.  That  any  two  or  more  School  Districts 
may  unite  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  the  benefit  of  this 
Act,  whenever  any  School  Committee  of  any  such  dis- 
tricts shall  be  petitioned  therefor  by  at  least  five  qualified 
electors  thereof,  said  Committee  shall  arrange  with  the 
School  Committee  of  any  other  of  said  Districts  for  the 
holding  of  a  special  election  to  determine  the  question. 
At  such  election,  any  qualified  elector  in  any  one  of  said 
Districts  shall  be  entitled  to  vote  at  said  special  election. 


99 

If  a  majority  of  the  votes  then  cast  shall  be  in  favor  of 
uniting  and  establishing  a  Free  Library  for  said  Districts, 
the  same  shall  be  deemed  and  taken  to  be  effected.  The 
Districts  so  united  shall  be  taken  to  be  one  District  for  the 
purposes  of  this  Act,  and  shall  be  considered  as  belonging 
to  the  class  which  any  one  of  said  Districts  would  have  be- 
longed to  if  there  had  been  no  union. 

Section  16.  Whenever  the  State  Library  Commission 
shall  certify  to  the  State  Treasurer  of  the  State  of  Dela- 
ware that  any  single,  united,  consolidated  or  incorporated 
School  District  in  this  State  has  established  a  Free  Public 
Library  therein,  and  has  raised  by  taxation,  gift,  or  other- 
wise a  sum  not  less  than  the  sum  prescribed  by  Section  10 
of  this  Act  for  the  class  to  which  such  District  belongs,  for 
the  support  and  maintenance  of  said  Library  for  the  year 
then  next  ensuing,  that  then  said  State  Treasurer  shall  pay 
to  the  District  Library  Commission  of  any  such  School 
District,  a  sum  equal  to  one-half  of  the  lowest  sum  pre- 
scribed in  Section  10  of  this  Act  for  the  class  in  which 
such  District  belongs ;  and  annually  thereafter,  the  said 
State  Treasurer  shall  pay  to  said  District  Library  Commis- 
sion, a  like  sum,  upon  the  certificate  of  the  State  Library 
Commission  that  said  District  has  raised  by  taxation,  gift, 
or  otherwise  a  sum  as  hereinbefore  provided  for  the  main- 
tenance and  support  of  a  Free  Public  Library  therein  for 
the  year  next  ensuing. 

Section  17.  That  the  Free  Public  Library  heretofore 
established  in  the  Town  of  Dover  be,  and  the  same  is 
hereby  transferred  to  and  made  the  Free  Public  Library  of 
the  United  School  District  known  as  "Dover  Public 
Schools;"  and  all  the  rights,  powers,  privileges  and  duties 
prescribed  by  this  Act  for  Free  Libraries  to  be  established 
under  its  provisions,  shall  immediately  vest  in  the  Library 
so  transferred,  and  in  the  said  United  School  District,  and 
in  the  Board  of  Education  thereof,  and  in  the  local  Libra- 
ry Commission  having  control  thereof  precisely  as  if  said 


ICO 


Free  Library  had  been  established  in  said  United  School 
Districts  in  the  first  instance.  The  members  of  the  local 
Library  Commission  having  control  of  said  Free  Library 
at  the  time  of  the  passage  of  this  Act  shall  compose  the 
District  Library  Commission  after  such  transfer  during  the 
respective  terms  for  which  they  were  severally  elected. 

That  the  Free  Library  known  as  the  "Corbit  Library" 
provided  for  under  Chapter  416  of  Volume  n  of 
the  Laws  of  Delaware  be  and  the  same  is  hereby  made  a 
School  District  Library  for  the  purpose  of  receiving  all 
benefits  provided  in  Section  17  of  this  Act,  and  for  the 
purpose  of  ascertaining  what  appropriation  said  Library 
shall  receive  under  said  Section  from  the  State  Treasurer, 
said  Corbit  Library  shall  be  deemed  and  taken  to  be  a  Li- 
brary established  under  the  provisions  of  this  Act  in  a 
School  District  of  the  Third  Class ;  but  in  all  other  re- 
spects said  Corbit  Library  shall  remain  and  continue  as 
though  this  Act  had  not  been  passed. 

Approved  March  9,  A.  D.  ipoi. 
Amended  and  Approved  March  jf,  A.  D. 


And  I  do  not  mean  by  all  this  my  talk,  that  young  gentlemen  should 
always  be  poring  on  a  book,  and  by  using  good  studies  should  loose 
honest  pleasure  and  haunt  no  good  pastime  :  I  mean  nothing  less.  .  . 
I  would  wish  that  beside  some  good  time  fitly  appointed,  and  constant- 
ly kept,  to  increase  by  reading  the  knowledge  of  the  tongue  and  learn- 
ing ;  young  gentlemen  should  use  and  delight  in  all  courtly  exercises 
and  gentlemanlike  pastimes. — ROGER  ASCHAM. 


101 


ERRATA. 

"State"  should  be  state,  p.  16,  last  line, 
"discourged"  should  be  discouraged,  p.  25,  fl  3,  line  I. 
"(See  index)"  should  be  (see  Table  of  Contents),  pp.   30,   32,   35, 
37,  45- 

Omit  "initials,"  p.  32,  fl  2,  line  6. 

Omit  "Author's  Initial,"  p.  32,  fl  2,  line  7. 

"Event"  should  be  issue,  p.  33,  line  6. 

?  should  be  !  p.  40,  close  of  fl  4. 

Insert  heading,  Registration  Book,  to  fl  4,  p.  51. 

Insert  heading  Book  Pocket,  to  fl  4,  p.  53. 

"e"  should  be  i  in  "whesp'ring,"  p.  58,  line  2  of  quotation. 

Omit  g  in  "rung,"  p.  61,  fl  5,  line  i. 

"e"  should  be  c  in  School,  p.  62,  fl  3,  of  "Library  Schools." 

Add  s  to  experiment,"  p.  64,  fl  3. 

"their"  should  be  this,  p.  66,  line  5. 

"that"  should  be  the,  p.  66,  fl  2,  line  i. 

Insert  so  after  "power  to  do,"  p.  67,  fl  4,  line  9. 

Di  Rioza  should  be  Di  Rioja,  p.  69. 

Abbreviation  for  June  should  be  Jn.  not  Je.,  p.  75,  fl  5. 

Omit  "s"  in  "inventors,"  p.  78,  fl  4,  line  2. 

Insert  f  before  "or,"  p.  88,  line  3  of  quotation. 


Wherever  we  go  in  life,  even  in  the  darkest  alleys  of  literature,  a 
good  and  an  evil  example  will  always  be  put  before  us,  and  because  this 
world  is  not  Heaven,  we  must  be  left  to  make  our  choice  between  good 
and  evil  ;  but  the  more  a  person's  views  are  enlarged,  and  the  wider 
the  choice  that  is  offered  to  him,  the  better  hope  there  is  that  he  may 
take  the  good  and  leave  the  evil.  All  that  we  can  do  is  to  give  him 
light — light  in  every  possible  direction,  and  if  a  man  chooses  to  make 
a  bad  use  of  his  eyes  and  ears,  and  of  his  other  faculties,  all  that  we 
can  say  is,  we  have  done  our  best,  we  cannot  make  the  world  Heaven. 

ARCHBISHOP  WHATELY. 


OF   THE 

UNIVERSITY 

OF 


